Professor E. Melik-Aslanian

A Tribute to the late Prof. E. Melik-Aslanian)
By Pejman Akbarzadeh
www.parstimes.com/persianmusicians.html

On 14th July 2003, Emanuel Melik-Aslanian, 88, one of
the greatest Persian composers and pianists passed a
way. Although, in fact he died in 1979!

Melik-Aslanian with many years teaching at the Tehran
Conservatory of Music and training such successful
pianists on the international podium as Pari Barkeshly
and Farshad Sanjari, and composing attractive works
inspired by Persian folk and classical music, had a
great role in advancing Persian art music.

Unfortunately not only non-of his works are available
perhaps his orchestral scores - which are so valuable
for researchers, young composers and the lovers of
Persian polyphonic music - have been not published.
There are just a few articles, which many years ago
published in "Music Magazine" in Tehran and a piano
pieces collection entitled "Tre Pezzi di Pianoforte su
Temi di Danze Popolari Orientali" which published in
1990 in Italy. It may goes back to the professor's
scruple about his compositions' performance. I,
myself, much time suggested him to send his orchestral
scores to Manucherhr Sahbai (Persian conductor in
Switzerland who is engaged in recording such works)
but he refused. He was just believed to the knowledge
of Farhad Meshkat - the greatest conductor in the
history of the Western art music in Persia (Iran) -
who after the 1979 revolution immigrated to the US and
in the next years had not any orchestra to conduct.

Emanuel Melik-Aslanian was born in 1915 in a Christian
family in Tabriz and received his first piano lessons
by a local musician called Amatoni.
In 1927 started to study piano at the Brahms Academy
in Hamburg and since 1935 to 1937 continued his
studies at the Hamburg Conservatory. He also studied
composition and conducting at the German State Academy
and spent a few years to study philosophy. The
teachers who exerted the strongest influence on him
were P. Hindemith, K. & J. Auzorgeh.

After graduation he became the director of a piano
school in Hamburg and got many recitals in Germany and
Austria, which attracted the attention of music
critics.

On his returned to Tehran in 1952 he was appointed as
a professor at the Tehran Conservatory. A few years
later he stated to participate with Western classical
music programs of Tehran Radio and Opera Council.

In this period Melik-Aslanian paid more attention to
Persian (Iranian) music and composed several works for
piano, such as "Tchargaah", inspired by his homeland
music. His another works (eg. Golbang Symphonic poem,
Parvaneh (Butterfly) Ballet, Piano Concerto, etc.)
Performed by the Tehran Symphony and Tehran
Conservatory Orchestra.
Aslanian believed if we add "Counterpoint" to our
national music heritage and create new methods to
arrangement the Persian melodies we will be able to
make an international school. He always pointed out;
"Counterpoint" is a since, so it is international,
therefore it does not damage our national identity".

Bibliography (in Persian):

- Abbasi, Saeed. "An Interview with Emanuel
Melik-Aslanian". Kelk Magazine, Nos. 58 & 59, January
& February 1994.

- "A Journey to Extreme; an Interview with Prof.
Emanuel Melik-Aslanian". Hamshahri daily, No. 872,
January 1, 1994.

- Akbarzadeh, Pejman. "Persian Musicians" (vol.1).
Navid-e Shiraz Publications, 2000.

- Parissa. "In Search of International Style; An
Interview with Emanuel Melik-Aslanian". Roudaki
Monthly, No. 36, October 1974.

- Saba, Hossein. "Emanuel Melik-Aslanian, Persian
Pianist and Composers". Iran's Music Magazine, Vol. 3,
No. 8, January 1955.