pauldata
Oud Maniac
Posts: 64
Registered: 4-20-2007
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Mood: No Mood
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Professor Aram Gulezian: One of the World's Great Oudists; RIP, Age 101!
One of our greatest oudists passed this month, at the age of 101:
Obituary click here
GULEZIAN, Harry Aram, accomplished Oudist, father and grandfather, passed away in the arms of his daughter, Maria Nasif on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.
Mr. Gulezian was 101 years old and enjoyed performing both classical and popular Near & Middle Eastern music at local Tucson venues into his 80's.
A transplant of New York City, Professor Aram as he was known by close friends, was a great supporter of Middle Eastern culture, frequently attending
events hosted by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Ashram and Tucson Meet Yourself. In earlier years he traveled to Egypt at the request of
colleagues to perform for political dignitaries, and upon his return to the US, he ignited a renewed local interest in his rich cultural heritage that
was his lifelong passion. Mr. Gulezian enjoyed serving as a guidance counselor at the School for The Deaf & Blind and was keenly aware of how
music formed a positive bond to his students. He is survived by his three children, Antoin, Michael, Maria; and grandson, Roman. His parents were
Haiganoush and Aram Gulezian. Memorial services will take place this Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 2pm at EVERGREEN MORTUARY, N. Oracle & W. Miracle
Mile, followed by a brief burial service next to his beloved wife Serpouhie (Suzanne as she was known to her friends) at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Hope
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to Casa de Los Ninos, 1101 N. 4th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85705.
My Trio, Balkan Spirit, has been honored by being invited to play at Professor Aram's memorial dinner. We will feature local oudist Michael
Henderson.
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Ararat66
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1025
Registered: 11-14-2005
Location: Portsmouth, UK
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Mood: mellow yellow
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Thinking of his familly but also hounouring a long life well spent now to rest peacefully. I'm sure your group will celebrate his life from the
heart.
Kindest regards
Leon
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spyros mesogeia
Oud Junkie
Posts: 896
Registered: 9-10-2003
Location: WASHINGTON DC
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Mood: play my ouds
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God bless his soul,and gives him an oud to the other life too....I am sure that he will continue to play taksims and there....
Regards to all
Spyros
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pauldata
Oud Maniac
Posts: 64
Registered: 4-20-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Thanks for your kind replies; the family was very gracious, and the food was excellent!  We played for two hours a mix of Middle Eastern, Balkan and Roma music on oud, percussion, guitar, tamboura and voices. The music was
very well received, and we felt the presence of the master Professor Aram. There are a couple of his early recordings available on CD which can be
sampled on Amazon should any of you be curious to know what master 'Oudis' were doing back in the 1960s in the USA. It is most fortunate that he was
able to perform well into his 80s; however I think that his latter, declining years were rather hard on him as I understand he had no access to
instruments and lived in a home for the aged. I hope he is in a better place now... :/
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