Tamar Eskenian was born in Lebanon, but she currently lives and works on music in Switzerland. She graduated from the Hochschule fur Musik in Basel, Switzerland and from the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She plays the flute, shvi, and svirel. Eskenian has performed in concerts worldwide and has presented the Armenian culture everywhere she went. Tamar told Aravot Daily that she had multiple concerts in honor of Komitas’ 150th birthday. She has played Komitas during all of her years of performance.
The classical musician noted that she plays Armenian national music and she specializes in old Baroque music. She added that she went to an Armenian school in Lebanon and she was given an Armenian upbringing. The musician emphasized that her grandparents on both sides miraculously survived the Armenian Genocide.
“Upholding your Armenian roots is something that is emphasized in Lebanon. Being able to read and write in Armenian and take part in the Armenian culture is what kept them Armenian,” Tamar said. According to her, the music that can have an effect on the soul is what’s important. Komitas’ music is an example of this.
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“His works are so clean and so pure that even foreigners become emotional. I was in Korea a few months ago performing Armenian music. The entire hall was singing “Hov Arek” with me,” she said. Tamar emphasized that she always felt Komitas’ presence in her home because her mother also sang Komitas in the Aleppo choir.
The musician noted that the impression that Armenian music is sad is incorrect. She said Armenian music has other layers. Komitas even reflected upon the different layers and colors of Armenian music in his German teachings.
Gohar Hakobyan
