Arev Baghdasaryan & Levon Madoyan
Born: April 2, 1913, Shushi, Artsakh (AB) August 10,1909 Gyumri, Armenia (LM)
Active years: 1930’s-1960’s
Label Association: Melodiya, USSR, Yerevan Art and Production Plant, HaykSSR

In this Sound Archive, we highlight two Soviet era Armenian records. The history of recordings in the former Soviet Union is complex but we provide a deeper look and an explanation into some of the recordings. By 1919, like much of the music released under Soviet rule, record production was centralized through government oversight. By 1964, all Soviet records were published by a state-run label named Melodiya. With a main record manufacturing facility or “pressing plant” in Moscow, Melodiya published predominantly western classical music. Their catalog also included pre-revolution recordings made by the Gramophone Company as well as post-revolution recordings from smaller pressing plants throughout the Soviet countries.

Many of these recordings represent regional repertoire that is reflective of the ethnic diversity of the Soviet Union. In particular, the early recordings of Armenian music were largely comprised of folk songs that were arranged for state ensembles. The primary ensembles were the “Radio Ensemble” led by Aram Merangyulyan (founded 1926) and the “State Song and Dance Ensemble” founded and led by Tatoul Altounian (founded 1938). 

In this Sound Archive post, we feature four songs that represent two highly accomplished musicians. The first disc was produced by Yerevan Art and Production Plant. The arrangements of the folk songs “Garunkner'' and “Hayots Ashkharh'' feature the vocalist and dancer, Arev Baghdasaryan. Born April 2,1913 in Shushi, Arev studied dance and music in Baku during the 1930’s. In 1941, Arev began work as a soloist for the Armenian State Philharmonic. These recordings are likely from this period of her career as she would later go on to primarily perform in the jazz arena. 

The other two pieces, “Akh, I’m Champen” (Ah, My road) and “Shirakskii Tanets” (Dance of Shirak) showcase the iconic Armenian instrument, the duduk. This ancient double reed instrument is much like an oboe but with a more mellow tone and lower pitch. On this USSR disc manufactured in Moscow we hear the highly accomplished player Levon Madoyan. Born August 10, 1909 in Gyumri, Levon resided in Yerevan from 1939 until his passing in 1964. He performed and recorded extensively and in 1961 he was named People's Artist of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. On “Akh, Im Champen,” Levon is accompanied by Andranik Askarian on duduk and a dhol player identified as V. Egorian. On the song, “Shirakskii Tenets” he is accompanied by Khachik Khachatrian on duduk. 

The recordings of these performers demonstrate how much skill and dedication they acquired through intensive musical training that functioned under Soviet rule. These songs merely scratch the surface of the range and complexity exhibited on records produced in Soviet Armenia. 

A special thanks to the SJS Charitable Trust for their generous support of our work to digitize and share our collection of 78 rpm records.