Armenian composer's Genocide Requiem praised in Germany

Talented Armenian composer Tigran Mansuryan's requiem dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims has received a warm welcome in Germany.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, the musician said he had been thinking about such work for about ten years.

"It was a very important composition for me as the idea to create something of the kind had been haunting me for around ten years. After long searches I was finally able to find a format to properly introduce the topic," he said.


Mansuryan characterized the requiem as work of ritual music, a unique performance that has to be presented differently every time.

"The Armenian psychology and mentality were taken into consideration while creating this requiem. When I saw the singers I realized what I was supposed to do," he added. "They looked so much like the biblical miniatures. I used the Latin language to create an Armenian-sounding piece of music. The Armenian music was so closely interwoven with the Latin language that even I was surprised."

Mansuryan said the requiem will tour around a world, without being performed in Armenia as an with Armenian musicians does not allow them to sing it in the country.

However, he said, a German choir may visit Armenia to perform the requiuem.