All the participants of the “We Sing Komitas” Festival, which is dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and has brought together performers from 12 countries around the world, are exceptionally talented. However, it is hard not to notice the talent of shvi player Hakob Babayan from Artsakh. I had a chance to meet Hakob Babayan during the gala concert of the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival held at Komitas Chamber Music Hall on September 25.

Hakob was born in 1989 in the Khanabad village of the Askeran region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In 1999, he got accepted to a special boarding school for the visually impaired in Yerevan where he also received his musical education. Examining Armenian national instruments, he chose to play the shvi. In 2010, he got accepted to Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory and was a student of Professor Samvel Yerknapeshyan. Hakob has given several concerts in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and has performed as a soloist and with various bands and orchestras. In 2007, at the invitation of the famous Alain Mikli, he left for Paris to give concerts. He has performed songs in different musical genres, including folk, classical, ethno-jazz and R&B.

Hayern Aysor: Hakob, could you tell us what made you decide to play the shvi?

 Hakob Babayan: When I was in the 9^th grade at the special boarding school for the visually impaired, a shvi teacher came and offered to teach us how to play the shvi. I was attracted at that moment, and over time, the more I practiced, the more I wanted to play. I started living with the music, and I loved Komitas’s music the most.

Hayern Aysor: What is your source of inspiration?

 H. B.: The music that “awakens” in me. Sometimes I wake up at night and want to play, but I don’t want to wake everyone up.

 Hayern Aysor: Do you always perform with a pianist during your concerts?

 H. B.: Yes, I have been collaborating with Levon Martirosyan for the past six years. We are friends and always perform together. We also adapt the music. Today we performed the “Fantasy” by Komitas, which we had adapted in a way that it would not only be folk music, but would also include other musical genres.

Hayern Aysor: What do you get out of festivals?

 H. B.: Two years ago, I participated in the “My Armenia” (Im Haiastan) Pan-Armenian Festival organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora and was very excited. The Armenians of the Diaspora make me feel very excited at these festivals. Their aspiration to be in the Homeland and their love for the Homeland is very motivating. This festival provided me with the opportunity to perform for them. I thank the RA Ministry o Diaspora for providing me with such an opportunity.

 Hayern Aysor: How do you choose a new instrument?

 H. B.: The sound of that instrument has to be close to my heart. It seems as though all instruments sound the same, but they don’t. First, you have to feel that it’s yours.

 Hayern Aysor: When was your first performance on stage?

 H. B.: I first performed during the event dedicated to the 70^th anniversary of my school on April 30, 2009. I remember it like it was yesterday. I performed a series of Armenian folk songs, and it was on that day that I realized that playing the shvi can help me perform on more stages.

As you listen to Hakob play, your body seems to stay rock solid. You get amazed at how he plays the instrument so perfectly, as well as realize that he sees more beautiful colors and that he sees music in all its “shades”.

Interview by Marianna Ananyan