The charming horn of Kumayri, conductor-researcher Shaliko‑dzhian (creative portrait of Shaliko Paltadzhian)

Abstract

Background. Topicality, objectives, methodology and novelty of the research. The creative achievements of the Honored Art Worker of Ukraine, Professor Shaliko Harehinovych Paltadzhian (1941–2020) are a significant contribution to the history of the development of Ukrainian musical culture and, of course, deserve special attention and thorough in-depth research. However, there is not still any fundamental work about this talented musician, brilliant French horn player and wonderful conductor. The author of this article was lucky to study together with Sh. Paltadzhyan at the Kharkov Conservatory and to work with him until the end of life of this outstanding artist. This essay aims to capture some of the features of the creative portrait of Shaliko Paltadzhian, relying on the few existing reference sources and self-own memories about the artist, and also to emphasize his, in a sense, a unique role in the educational process at the Kharkiv National University of Arts and at Ukraine in general. Accordingly, touching upon the educational, methodological and sociological spheres, the study as a whole adheres to the chronological method of presenting events inherent in the genres of historical and biographical essays and portraits. The main results of the research. We traced the creative path of Shaliko Paltadzhian from his very appearance in Kharkiv in 1959 as an entrant at the Kharkiv Conservatory, where, despite the almost complete impossibility of communication due to the language barrier (the musician was born in Armenian city Gyumri, which was known as Kumayri from the period of the Kingdom of Urartu), he, nevertheless, charmed the examiners with the extra-ordinal expressive sound of his French horn, and until the last decade of fruitful work of this wonderful musician at Kharkiv National University of Arts and the “Slobozhansky” Youth Academic Symphony Orchestra . We consider Sh. Paltadzhian’s working with this orchestra as a new special stage in his conducting activities. Being, at the same time, the leader of the Student orchestra of the Kharkiv National University of Arts and the professional team of the “Slobozhansky” Orchestra, Sh. Paltadzhian, thus, makes the first in Ukrainian musical education sphere practical step in the implementation of a modern project on the introduction of so named “dual form” of vocational training, which joints the instructive process in an educational institution with the practice at the workplace. In addition, he does it long before the official directives (“Slobozhansky” Orchestra already exists 28 years). The example of the “Slobozhansky” Orchestra testifies that the organization of the educational process in a dual form gives a positive result and fully corresponds to modern educational methods: after graduating from the University, the musicians come to new teams as the very well prepared professionals, because they were passing through a “double” school as orchestra students. Shaliko Paltadzhian as a conductor proved this in practice. Conclusions. In perspective, the method of dual form of education can be adapted to any specialization. In our case, the practical bases for this are orchestras (symphony, wind), children’s music schools, music colleges, art faculties at other universities, and so on. “Slobozhansky” Orchestra partially solves the problem of mass moving abroad of the best domestic youth. The orchestra has an interesting creative atmosphere. World-famous conductors, soloists work with him; the collective tours in Denmark, Spain and Italy. Some graduates have already turned down foreign offers and stayed at home in Ukraine. Thus, Shaliko Paltadzhian played a key role in a landmark scientificeducation experiment conducted at the Kharkiv National University of Arts named after I. P. Kotlyarevsky. The weird and wonderful, versatile talent of this bright, charismatic musician is striking. As a Professor at the University, Sh. Paltadzhian taught various educational disciplines in the last decade of his life: opera and symphony conducting, musical instruments studies, arrangements, reading scores. He is also the author of scientific papers and manuals. His brilliant talent and clear human soul will forever remain in our memory.