Grikor Suni

Grikor Mirzaian Suni (; originally Grikor Mirzaian, also Grigor; September 10, 1876 – December 18, 1939) was an Armenian composer and choirmaster. In his hometown of Shushi, Suni became famous for his musical talents and organized his first concert. This would get him in trouble with Russian authorities forcing his chorus out of Shushi where they went on to spread Armenian cultural music around the world. Suni was an instrumental figure in establishing the national identity of Armenian music and considered one of the many founders of modern Armenian music. Biography Grikor Suni came from a family of Armenian meliks (princes) from Syunik. He was the son of the singer and miniaturist Hovhannes Varandetsi and the grandson of the once famous ashug (folk singer) Melik Hovhannes Mirzabekyan. His great grandfather was Ashiq-Bashi (Chief Minstrel) at the court of Fath-Ali Shah. In 1883, he lost his father, who was killed falling from a horse. Suni spent much of his childhood in Shushi where he first started to study music. In Shusha, the future composer became acquainted with the Armenian musical notation system and theory. The young musician received wide recognition in the city and for his beautiful voice he was nicknamed Ghali Bulbul ().