Simon Gasparyan - Tar

Tarahar Simon Gasparyan: A Forgotten Musician of the Soviet Era

Little is known about the life and career of tar player Simon Gasparyan, a musician whose recordings provide a rare glimpse into the early 20th-century musical traditions of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Gasparyan was active during the 1930s and 1940s, with his recordings released by Glamplasttrest (Noginsk Plant) and All-Union Radio of the USSR in Moscow under the name Semyon Kasparov.

His recordings from 1937 and 1941 are particularly significant, as they include the oldest known recordings of the famous Armenian piece “Eshkhemed”, along with other melodies that were widely popular in the region.

According to Hovhannes Darbinyan's research, Gasparyan was one of the prominent tar players of his era, recognized in the Armenian press alongside other notable musicians such as Bala Meliqyan, Nerses Ghorghanyan, Arsen Yeramishyan, Sasha Tarkhanyan, Andranik Rushanyan, Levon Harutyunyan, and Shushetsi Tata.

Despite his contributions to the musical landscape of his time, Simon Gasparyan remains a largely obscure figure, with few details available about his personal life or later years. His work, however, continues to be a valuable part of the rich musical heritage of the Soviet-era Caucasus.