(b. 1957, Gyumri).
Canadian composer, born in Armenia, of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and piano works that have been performed in North America.
Mr. Shoujounian began to compose at age eleven. He studied composition and violin at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan and then at the Garu Mourza College of Music. He later studied composition with Gilles Tremblay at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, where he received his MMus in 1982.
He has lived in Canada since 1976.
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL:
Akhtamar, bassoon, small orchestra (4 flutes, 4 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 percussion), 1983
Trois Miniatures, 12 or more strings, 1984
Rhapsodie, cello, small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, timpani, strings), 1985
Sayat-Nova (suite concertante), vibraphone (+ xylophone, marimba), orchestra, 1988–92
Concerto, cello, string orchestra, 1995
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Suite, violin, 1968–74
Horovele, clarinet, 1979
Arax, string quartet, 1980
Dzez – à vous, piano, triangle (+ temple blocks, xylophone), 1982
Hour, Ondes Martenot, 1983
Funny Dialogues, 2 violins, 1985
Le Jeu, violin, cello, piano, 1985
Kour – Fleuve, string quartet, 1985
Sassouni, piccolo, alto flute, harpsichord, 1985
Monologue 1, viola, 1985
Monologue 2, guitar, 1985
Monologue 3, percussion, 1985
Monologue 4, cello, 1986
Cinq Danses arméniennes, piano, vibraphone (+ xylophone, marimba), 1987
Odzouny, Ondes Martenot, ensemble (French horn, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, percussion), 1987
Arevagal, bassoon, French horn, viola, 1991
Artzakh, 4 Ondes Martenot, 1993
CHORAL:
Ararat: Poème symphonique (text by Mardiros Kavukjian), soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1981
Spirit divine attend our prayers, mixed chorus, organ, 1985
Surp Khach – Holy Cross (oratorio), soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 3 percussion, 2000
VOCAL:
Suite vocale de trois pièces, soprano, piano, 1981
18 Armenian Religious Chants, soprano, small orchestra, 2001
PIANO:
Les Pistes de jours, 1978
La Petite Elsie, 1981
Mashtots, 2 pianos, 1982
Monologue 5, 1986
ORGAN:
Lui pour nous, 1983