(b. 10 May 1946, Yerevan – d. 17 February 2022, Yerevan).
Armenian composer of orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed in Asia, Europe and North America.
Prof. Chaushyan was the son of the cellist Alexander Chaushyan (b. 1917 – d. 1991). He began composing in 1957 and later studied composition with Edvard Mirzoyan and piano with Georgi Sarajev at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, where he graduated in 1969 and where he had postgraduate studies in composition with Edvard Mirzoyan from 1969–72.
Among his honours were the State Youth Prize of Armenia (1974, for Concerto [violin]), a recommended work at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers in Paris (1983, for String Quartet No. 2), First Prize in a state competition for symphonic music in Armenia (1985, for To the Unknown Soldier), and the Movses Khorenatsi Medal in Yerevan (2021, for his œuvre). His music has been performed in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the USA.
He was also active in other positions. He served as secretary of the board of directors of the Armenian Composers Union in Yerevan from 1979–85 and as deputy to its chairman from 1986–91. He served as chairman of the artistic board of directors of the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra from 1994–2004 and founded the Armenian Music Assembly, for the promotion of contemporary music, in Yerevan in 1994 and served as its chairman from 1995–2022.
He taught composition at the Komitas State Conservatory from 1973–2011, where he was a professor from 1999–2011.
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL:
Concerto No. 1, piano, small orchestra/orchestra (timpani, strings), 1964
Concerto for Orchestra (Theme and Variations), 1966
Suite, vibraphone, 18–20 strings, 1966
Symphonic Poem No. 1, large orchestra (70 players), 1969
Symphonic Poem No. 2, 'Kajastan', large orchestra (70 players), 1970
Concerto, violin, large orchestra (70 or more players), 1973
Festal Fanfares (overture), large orchestra (66 players), 1977, revised 1995
Concerto No. 2, piano, large orchestra (64 players), 1977
Concerto, flute, small orchestra (28 players), 1978
To the Unknown Soldier (symphony), large orchestra (70 players), 1984
Serenade, string orchestra, 1998
CHAMBER MUSIC:
String Quartet No. 1, 1967
Five Preludes, 12 or more violins, 1971
Sonata No. 1, cello, 1975
Five Pieces, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1979
String Quartet No. 2, 1981
Sonata, violin, piano, 1982
Sonata No. 2, cello, 1984
String Quartet No. 3, 1986
Sonata for Violin Solo, violin, 1989, revised 2000
String Quartet No. 4, 1994
Sonata, clarinet, piano, 1995
Piano Trio, violin, cello, piano, 1999
Dialogues, violin, piano, 2005
CHORAL:
Pax mundi (oratorio, text by Gevorg Karapetyan), 16 or more mixed voices, large orchestra (130 players), 1971
Mor sirte – The Heart of a Mother (text by Avetik Isahakyan), 16 or more mixed voices, 1974
Small Triptych (vocalise), 16 or more mixed voices, 1978
Dzon Hayrenikin – Hymn to the Homeland (text by Aramais Sahakyan), 16 or more mixed voices, large orchestra (130 players), 1980
A Word to God from the Depths of the Heart (text by Gregory of Narek), 16 or more mixed voices, 2001
VOCAL:
Five Songs (text by Avetik Isahakyan), soprano, piano, 1972
Haykakan yerger – Armenian Songs (text by Avetik Isahakyan), bass, piano, 1981
PIANO:
Impromptu, 1963
Seven Preludes, 1973
Three Pieces, 1979
Sonata No. 1, 1980
Sonatina No. 1, 1983
Sonatina No. 2, 1983
Sonatina No. 3, 1984
Sonatina No. 4, 1984
Sonatina No. 5, 1985
Sonatina No. 6, 1985
Sonata No. 2, 1986
Epicentre, 1989
Urbi et Orbi, 1996
Sonata No. 3, 2003