Composer Edward Mirzoyan was a noted name in the music of Soviet Armenia and president of the Composers Union for more than three decades. He was born in Gori, Georgia, on May 12, 1921. His stepfather was composer Mikayel Mirzayan (1888-1958).
Mirzoyan later moved to Armenia and graduated in 1941 from the creative section of the Yerevan Conservatory. By that time he had already composed his first works, including two popular songs based on Avetik Isahakian’s poems, “They Say That…” and “Dream.” He served in the Soviet army from March-November 1942, organizing army ensembles of songs and dances. From 1946-48 he continued his studies at the musical studio of the House of Armenian Culture in Moscow. Returning to Yerevan, he taught at his alma mater from 1948 onwards, becoming a full professor in 1965.
From 1950-1952 he was executive secretary of the Composers Union of Armenia and its president from 1956-1991, becoming honorary president in 1994, and president of the Peace Fund of Armenia from 1977-2009 (honorary president in 2009). He toured the United States and Canada in 1963. In the same year he earned the title of Popular Artist of Soviet Armenia, one among various awards and honorific titles he received throughout his life.
He wrote songs based on poems by Avetik Isahakian and Yeghishe Charents. Some of his works were characterized by their dynamism, such as “Symphonic Dances,” “Festive Prelude,” “Introduction and Perpetuum Mobile” (for violin and orchestra). His “String Quartet” is one of the interesting words of Armenian chamber music. His cantatas, like “Armenia,” “Festive,” and others, are suffused with patriotic spirit. He contributed several symphonic works of particular value such as the sonata for cello and piano” and the symphony for string orchestra and timpani. He also wrote “Album for My Grandchild,” “Poem for Piano,” “Poem-Epitaph for Chamber Orchestra,” and other works.
Mirzoyan has also written the music of several Armenian movies, such as Collapse (1959), Chaos (1974), The President of the Revolutionary Committee (1977), Exile No. 11 (1979), and The Pharmacy at the Corner (1988), and the documentary Today Is a Sunny Day (1975).
Some of Mirzoyan’s students were famous composers like Jivan Ter-Tadevosian, Constantine Orbelian, Avet Terterian, Vache Sharafian, Khachatur Avetisian, Robert Amirkhanian, and others.
Mirzoyan passed away in Yerevan, on October 5, 2012, at the age of ninety-one. He was buried at the Komitas Pantheon. The House of Composers of Dilijan was named after him 2013.
