Herbert Maurer: “There is great interest toward Armenia in Austria”
Herbert Maurer, writer and interpreter from Austria, paid a visit to Armenia. He was in a group with Austrian jazzmen Christoff Chezh, Peter Herbert and Fabian Rucker, whose visit to Armenia was supported by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Herbert Maurer, an Austrian-Armenian writer and interpreter, is implementing a number of projects aimed at disseminating the Armenian culture and literature in German-speaking countries. Herbert is fluent in seven languages, and has translated writings of Armenian authors into German. He says German readers are highly interested in reading writings of Armenian authors such as Grigor Narekatsi, Vahan Teryan, Levon Khechoyan, Armen Shekoyan and others. Writings of these authors are available in German now.
Herbert Maurer says in the recent years there is great interest toward Armenia in Austria, and he has been able to improve his projects due to the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Recently Herbert Maurer, in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, established an Austrian library in the Linguistic University after Valeri Bryusov in Yerevan. This library is a small culture center for getting acquainted with the Austrian literature. “I am translating writings of Armenian authors to enable German-speaking readers get acquainted with the Armenian culture. In consideration of the fact that Hrant Matevosyan is one of the founders of the Armenian modern literature, I started from his works, and now I am translating younger modern writers’ pieces.
This is going to be a continuous process. My goal is spreading as much Armenian literature in German-speaking countries as possible in order to make the Armenian literature available to those societies,” says Herbert Maurer. According to him, it is the first time that Austrian readers have the opportunity to get acquainted with the Armenian literature. In answer to a question whether there are any prospects to spread Armenian literature and consider the German-speaking countries as a new market, Herbert Maurer says that there are large publishing houses in Germany and it is possible to publish Armenian books in that market. “The fact that people do not read books much now is a challenge, but in Austria there are still people who read newly published books. For example, it is several years that Davit Matevosyan organizes “Literature Arc” forum, which brings various writers and publicists to Armenia. This is a great opportunity to get closer to the book and meet people from other countries. I think it is possible to develop contact between nations not only through journalists but writers as well,” says Maurer.
Herbert Maurer cooperates with Austrian professional musicians as well. He says Sayat Nova, the Armenian renowned composer, lived in the times of Mozart. Herbert has organized a music forum after Sayat Nova in Austria, due to which Austrians became more interested in Armenian music.
The Austrian jazz band that visited Armenia as a play with motives of Sayat Nova’s music. “We understand that classic music is beautiful, but we do not want to live in a museum,” says Herbert and adds that from visit to visit he is surprised to see how slow cultural life is developing in the country. By the way, Herbert says he is surprised at Armenians’ resilience, and it is a sign of strong power that they can stand such difficult conditions.
“I feel that your music has homeland”
On October 26th, in Narekatsi arts center Herbert Maurer introduced Christoff Chezh, Peter Herbert and Fabian Rucker, who are among the best jazzmen in Austria. The jazzmen offered a master class of jazz to Armenian young jazzmen, which was followed by interesting discussion and a trio concert. Christoff Chech was in Armenia for the second time and said that Armenia is a country of culture and was new for him. “I feel that your music has homeland. We have some spiritual connection because both the Austrian and Armenian music elements have sadness, which generates family feelings in me,” said the Austrian musician and added that one of the purpose of their visit to Armenia was to develop cooperation with Armenian jazzmen. Christoff Chech and Peter Herbert teach at the university after Anton Bruckner of Austria’s Linz, which means that Armenian jazzmen and youth have an opportunity of dialogue with that university. “This is a good opportunity to understand the Armenian jazz environment, and we will try to develop strong relations between Armenian and Austrian jazz. We know a little about Armenian jazz. There are Armenian jazzmen in Austria that we know, but we would like to also develop relations with jazzmen in your country,” said Christoff Chech.
Peter Herbert said that he had played with Arto Tunjboyajyan in New York. Fabian Rucker said surprisingly that he had just recently found out that renowned jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan is Armenian.
By Lusine Stepanyan
