Andy - 5-1-2006 at 04:20 PM
Just got an email from Haig saying that he learned from Leon Janikian that oud master George Mgrdichian passed away yesterday April 30th. George will
be missed very much. George can be heard on the LP Oriental Delight, The Oud (used the name Aram Arakelian), Portraits of the Near East, Rendevous in
Armenia, Rendezvous in Greece, Rendezvous in Istanbul and many other recordings.
MrOud - 5-1-2006 at 05:02 PM
A great loss for the Oud community. Just yesterday Ara Dinkjian was telling me how ill George was when he visited him in the hospital. I had the
privilege of working in the same club with George some 10 years ago in New Jersey. I was inspired by his perfect technic and unique style. He will
continue to live in his recordings.
Udi Mike
Such a big loss indeed.
sydney - 5-1-2006 at 05:56 PM
May his soul rest in peace.
paulO - 5-1-2006 at 07:06 PM
I'd read a post a month or two ago from Mav that George wasn't doing well. Although I never saw him perform, or met him, his albums had a huge impact
on my playing. He had such a great sound, oh so clean and round, but not sterile -- as Mike said, very unique.
Mike - 5-2-2006 at 06:03 AM
May God repose his soul in peace and provide his family and friends with comfort for their loss.
mavrothis - 5-2-2006 at 06:11 AM
This is very sad. May God take his soul in peace. He was one of the first oud player I ever heard and very inspirational in every way. I hope his
family will be strong and know how loved he is, even by many people who never met him in person.
mtk
Jonathan - 5-2-2006 at 07:58 AM
It was through Mgrdichian's music that I first realized how soulful the oud can be--that it was more than a "kef" instrument.
I remember years ago hearing his version of Groong--an Armenian song called, in English, "The Crane". It's a sad, sad song about a man far from home,
who sees a crane, which reminds him of his home, and his loved ones.
Mgrdichian's version is pretty much all tremolo. I have never heard anything quite so poignant as this. It becomes hypnotic, with the tremolo almost
approximating the sound of a bird's wings in flight.
It remains one of my very favorite recordings.
May he rest in peace.
John Erlich - 5-2-2006 at 08:15 AM
May he rest in peace and may his life's work continue to inspire us all!
I only met George Mgrdichian once (in 2002), but he seemed like a very friendly and generous man. He gave me his phone number to contact him for oud
lessons, and I am very sorry that I was never in a position to follow up with him.
You can hear some samples of George's playing at this link: http://www.gerardedery.com/PROGRAMS/HTML/georgeM.html
-Udi John
TruePharaoh21 - 5-2-2006 at 10:27 AM
May God rest his soul. Our prayers are with his family.
TP21
DJdog - 5-2-2006 at 04:32 PM
Amen. Peace be with his family. My love of the oud began with his recordings. We all owe him much, and his memory and music will live on.
Amos - 5-3-2006 at 07:59 AM
I would like to add my wishes that Mr. Mgrdichian rest in peace and express my gratitude to him for giving us such beautiful music. His recordings and
unique style will always inspire me.
oudmaker - 5-3-2006 at 12:04 PM
Better luck at the otherside my friend.
We will be playing together again.
Dincer
Jonathan - 1-16-2007 at 05:42 AM
There is a "new" Mgrdichian cd available--"American Oud Master", on ARP (http://www.arpmusic.com)
Almost completely previously unreleased material, with the proceeds going to benefit the George Mgrdichian Scholarship fund at Juliard.