PHD in Musicology, composer and arranger, conductor, music educator, lecturer.Living in a life full of creativity and dedication
“I was pleased to have found that the public, and even professionals, have
welcomed warmly the Arabic songs dressed thus with a polyphonic feature. The
arrangement of an Arabic polyphonic singing involves not only the mastery of the
Western musical technics in parallel with those of the Arabic language and music,
but also a familiarity with of what the Arabic music can admit without shocking
with the selected polyphonic sonorities.”
--
E.Torikian
CREATIVITY
Living in a life full of harmony
1990 TO PRESENT
- Arranging polyphonic Arabic songs for Fayha Choir (since 2002)
-Symphonic orchestral arranging for Arabic and Western music
1985 TO PRESENT
- Teaching music and musicology courses at USEK
- Head of Music Composition Department at USEK (since 1997)
1980-2016
- Teaching music in primary and secondary schools in Beirut
- Writing journal articles
- Arranging, playing and recording classical and pop music
- Conducting many choirs in Beirut and performing concerts in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Italy
1980- 1985
- Studying musicology at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik-Lebanon (USEK)
1973-1980:
- Playing music in night clubs, choir conducting and mini-orchestra arrangements in Beirut and Aleppo
Working with many Lebanese famous composers, authors and singers:
Marcel Khalife, Ghassan Rahbani, Khaled Mouzannar, Georges Khabbaz, Joseph Andari, Henri Zoughaib, Wajdi Chayya, Fr. Louis Hage, Fr. Youssef Tannous, Fr. Marwan Azar, Tania Saleh, Pascal Sakr, Abeer Nehme, Elia Francis, The TOMB sisters, Raymond Ghattas (and many others).
STUDY
2004
PhD in Musicology
Music Faculty of Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) - Lebanon Dissertation title: “The General Characteristics of Armenian Liturgical Chant and the Peculiarities of Bzommar Monastery Variant” (in French).
1997
DEA (Diploma studies)
Music Faculty of USEK Dissertation title: “The Syriac Sacred Chant Characteristics” (in French).
1988
Music Composition & Choir Conducting Courses
Komitas Higher Conservatory Erevan-Armenia (2 months intensive training)
1981-1985
Musical higher education and Musicology Master
Music Faculty of USEK
1966-1972
Primary musical studies at Bzommar Monastery (Keserwan).
TEACHING & ADVISING
2010 - PRESENT
Associate Professor and Chairperson at USEK
1997-PRESENT
Head of Music Composition Department
2010-PRESENT
PhD & MBA advisor
2012-PRESENT
Doctorate Seminar lecturer
2008-PRESENT
Musical Forms Analysis teacher
2000-PRESENT
20th Century Music History & Analysis lecturer
Orchestration Course teaching
1986-PRESENT
Music Theory, Solfeggio, Harmony & Counterpoint teacher
1992-1997
Founder and Director of the Music School USEK-Tekeyan
1997-2011
Founder and Director of P. L. Der-Minassian Music Centre in Zalka
1975-2008
Music Education teaching in Primary & Secondary Schools
bio.
A Lebanese citizen of Armenian origin, Edward Torikian (1952-) learned to play harmonium in the monastery of Bzommar (Kesrwan) and then he has continued to learn music autodidactically till 1981 when he became an undergraduate in the Faculty of Music of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Jounieh), where he taught musical materials and meanwhile continued his studies and earned the PHD Degree in 2004.
Throughout his life, he was engaged in different kinds of musical activities: Professor of music in schools and University, choir conductor for more than 40 years, orchestrator and arranger, local and international lecturer, author of articles and music books, E. Torikian is continuing to compose and teach in Lebanon, living a life full of harmony with his wife Laura, a great source of moral inspiration, as well as a great support in managing his work affairs.