Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Armenia, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
In the history of Armenian musical culture, there are biographies of some persons who evoke deep respect, gratitude, surprise, and pride. One of these is the biography of academician, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Armenia Alexander Hakobyan. He was the first and, for a certain period, the only official accompanist of the Yerevan Music Studio, which was founded in 1921, and after that — the accompanist of the Yerevan State Conservatory.
Alexander Hakobyan’s life is a unique combination of opposite spheres of successful activities, such as music and exact science. But above all, it is an example of devoted service for the benefit of our native Armenia.
Alexander Hakobyan was born on December 25, 1890, in Alexandropol (now Gyumri, the administrative center of Shirak Province, Armenia).
His father, Arshak Hakobyan, worked as a notary and was a multi-talented person; he constructed a gramophone according to the model he had seen somewhere and later learned to tune a piano. When Alexander was a little boy, his relatives sent him to study in Tbilisi (Alexander lost his father at a young age). There he went to the real school and, at the same time, attended a music studio where he studied piano with Mrs. Tulaeva. After four years of study, there was an offer to transfer Alexander to another teacher. “I have nothing more to convey to you,” said Mrs. Tulaeva to her beloved student. His studies continued with the famous teacher Alois Mizandary. The musicologist Shushanik Apoyan writes, “Greek by nationality, Mizandari, an enlightened musician who had given concerts in Vienna and Paris in the past, communicated with many Russians and Western European composers, and in particular with Johannes Brahms.”
Margarita Mirimanova, who was considered “Student No. 1”, also studied in Mizandari’s class. Young Alexander was listed as “Student No. 2”, but A. Mizandari often told him: “I have no one better than you.” At that time, the young man’s technique impressed him more.
Then Alexander Hakobyan continued his studies at the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) «Peter the Great» St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, where he studied thermodynamics and mechanics — sciences that became priorities in his future activities as a scientist. He graduated from the university in 1917. In Petrograd, Alexander Hakobyan lived with his uncle, Elikum Babayan, who was the head of the Mint.
A “Bechstein” grand piano was in the house, and Alexander continued his studies individually. It is necessary to remember Margarita Mirimanova, who in those years studied at the Petrograd Conservatory (Saint Petersburg Conservatory). The famous composer and rector of the Petrograd Conservatory Alexander Glazunov highly appreciated Mirimanova’s talent and entrusted her with performing his Piano Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Opus, 92 in the author’s symphony evening, which he conducted. Thanks to his friendship with Margarita
Mirimanova (she later continued her studies with Leopold Godowsky, became a famous pianist, and settled in France), Alexander Hakobyan became a member of the conservatory circle of young musicians, attended concerts, musicological discussions, played four-handed with students, sometimes, at the request of Margarita Mirimanova, listened to her before performances (of course, this attitude to Alexander was because of the level of his musical knowledge and because of his professionalism).
Once, having heard Alexander Hakobyan’s play, Alexander Glazunov expressed the opinion that the young man would have a career as a concert pianist… But Hakobyan had already made his choice of profession.
After graduating from the institute, Alexander Hakobyan worked for some time in Tbilisi. Under the Dashnak government (1918-1920) he taught at the University of Alexandropol (now: Shirak State University, Gyumri). In 1921, Alexander Hakobyan was invited to Yerevan, where some preparations were being made for the opening of the Yerevan State University. The young scientist became one of its founders and teachers.
Among the urgent tasks of the Armenian Republic, after the establishment of Soviet power on November 29, 1920, was the creation of a music educational center. For this purpose, the famous composer and public figure Romanos Melikian was invited to Yerevan. He became the founder of the Music Studio — the first professional musical institution in Yerevan.
Romanos Melikian attracted five musician-teachers to work in the studio (he became the sixth). Among them, there was the only accompanist Alexander Hakobyan.
On December 22, 1921, took place the opening of the Yerevan Music Studio. Among the participants in the concert dedicated to this event was Alexander Hakobyan, who accompanied the performing teachers. This evening was the beginning of a short but fruitful collaboration between singers A. Babalyan and A. Hakobyan.
In 1923, Alexander Hakobyan continued his activities as the first and only accompanist of the Yerevan State Conservatory.
Devotion to the main in his life — science — and demands, first of all, on himself, no longer allowed him to continue his musical activity. But his friendly ties with former partners on the concert stage, as well as with some conservatory students, remained for life.
It should be noted that Alexander Hakobyan, in addition to his native language, was also fluent in Russian, French (with colleagues, repatriates from France, he sometimes spoke French at home), and German, which is evidenced by his correspondence with outstanding scientists of the world.
Alexander Hakobyan was the dean of the Technical Faculty of the Yerevan State University (1928-1929), and from the founding of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, being non-partisan, Alexander Hakobyan became deputy director (an exceptional case for those times), headed the Departments of Theoretical Mechanics (1930-1939), Thermodynamics and Heat Engineering (1939-1954), and Physics (1954-1957).
In 1941, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia, Alexander Hakobyan was awarded the title of Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Armenia.
In 1943, the Armenian National Academy of Sciences was formed, and Alexander Hakobyan became one of its founding members. For outstanding services in the field of science and technology, Academician Alexander Hakobyan was awarded two Orders of Lenin.
This is the scale of the outstanding scientist, academician, gifted pianist, and accompanist Alexander Hakobyan.