"Artsakh" (Armenian: «Արցախ») is an instrumental folk song from Armenian contemporary composer Ara Gevorgyan's 1999 album Ani. The song has become wildly popular in Armenia.[2][3] Over the years, it has been used in cultural and political[4] events and occasions. Figure skaters, gymnasts, and other athletes around the world have also used the song.

"Artsakh"
Song by Ara Gevorgyan
from the album Ani
Released1999 (1999)[1]
GenreInstrumental folk
Length5:35
LabelEye Records
External audio
audio icon Full version of Artsakh in Ara Gevorgyan's website

Name

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Artsakh was one of the 15 provinces of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia.[5] Today, Artsakh is still the Armenian name of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The region achieved de facto independence alongside Armenian forces during the bloody war with Azerbaijan in 1988-94. The war is seen by Armenians as liberation of their historic lands and the song is a tribute to the Armenian victory.

Usage in sports

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Parts of "Artsakh" have been used in sports, including:

Year Athlete Country Sport Event(s) Ref
2001–02 Alexander Abt   Russia   Figure skating All season long, including at the 2002 Winter Olympics [6]
2005–06 Elene Gedevanishvili   Georgia   Figure skating All season long, including at the 2006 Winter Olympics [7]
2007 Dinara Gimatova   Azerbaijan   Gymnastics [8][9][10]
2007-08 Vazgen Azrojan
Anastasia Grebenkina
  Armenia   Figure skating Original dance [11]
2008 Aliya Yussupova   Kazakhstan   Gymnastics [12]
2009 Holon Israel   Israel   Figure skating [13]
2009 Vic Darchinyan   Armenia   Boxing Entrance song [14]
2010 Dou Baobao   China   Gymnastics 2010 Corbeil-Essonnes International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament [15]
2010 Marta Koczkowska   Poland   Gymnastics 2009 Corbeil-Essonnes International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament [16]
2010 Giorgio Petrosyan   Italy   Kickboxing Entrance song [17]
2013 Victoria Moors   Canada   Gymnastics 2013 AT&T American Cup [18]
2013 Gegard Mousasi   Netherlands   Kickboxing Entrance song [19]
2014 Susianna Kentikian   Germany   Boxing Entrance song [20]
2016 Seda Tutkhalyan   Russia   Gymnastics All season long, including at the 2016 Summer Olympics [21][22]
2020-21 Adeliya Petrosyan   Russia   Figure skating All season long, including at the 2021 Russian Junior Championships [23]
Other

Controversy

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In 2007 Azerbaijani ambassador in Russia and former singer Polad Bülbüloğlu alleged that "Artsakh" contains an Azerbaijani song. Ara Georgyan responded that Bülbüloğlu's statements were a result of confusion from an incident that occurred during one of the episodes of the Russian TV show "Ice Age" broadcast by Channel One. During the performance of Russian singer Aleksandra Savaleva (ru) and Israeli ice dancer Sergei Sakhnovski, it was initially announced that the song they were going to use was called "Armenian dance" by Ara Gevorgyan, but instead a song called "Sene de galmaz" by Azerbaijani composer Tofig Guliyev was played and only after that a small portion of "Artsakh" was played.[25] Ara Gevorgyan suggested that Azerbaijanis tried to justify Dinara Gimatova's use of the song without his permission in a 2005 grand-prix.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Ani". Ara Gevorgyan Website. Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Գիլանն առաջարկ է արել Արա Գևորգյանին" (in Armenian). A1plus. 23 May 2012. Այսուհետ կոմպոզիտորի հանրահայտ «Արցախ» ստեղծագործությունը....
  3. ^ "Հայաստանի շունչը՝ Ռուսաստանում". Aravot (in Armenian). 23 March 2007. ...«Արցախ» հանրահայտ կոմպոզիցիան:
  4. ^ Examples of political events (rallies, demonstrations) where "Artsakh" can be heard:
  5. ^ Croissant, Michael P. (1998). The Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Causes and Implications. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. p. 10. ISBN 9780275962418.
  6. ^ Alexander Abt 2002 Olympics SP on YouTube
  7. ^ Elene Gedevanishvili & Ara Gevorkyan - Artsakh on YouTube
  8. ^ "Ара Геворкян подаст в суд" (in Russian). No. 187. Kommersant via Golos Armenii. 12 October 2007. ...выступления своей спортсменки Динары Гематовой на соревнованиях по художественной гимнастике в Минске под музыку Ары Геворкяна "Арцах".
  9. ^ Dinara Gimatova Ribbon AA Deriugina Cup 2007 on YouTube
  10. ^ Dinara Gimatova Ribbon 2007 Miss Valentine on YouTube
  11. ^ "Anastasia GREBENKINA / Vazgen AZROJAN: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008.
  12. ^ Aliya Yussupova Music Ribbon 2008 (Exact Version) on YouTube
  13. ^ Holon Israel - Armenian Dance on YouTube
  14. ^ "Դարչինյան-Ագբեկո մարտը՝ Ջեքսոնի երգերի ուղեկցությամբ". Aravot (in Armenian). 7 July 2009. ...Վախթանգ Դարչինյանը, որը, ինչպես հայտնի է, ավանդաբար ռինգ է մտնում Արա Գեւորգյանի «Արցախ» ստեղծագործության երաժշտության հնչյունների ներքո:
  15. ^ DOU Baobao ribbon - Corbeil 2010 AA on YouTube
  16. ^ Marta KOCZKOWSKA rope - Corbeil 2009 AA on YouTube
  17. ^ Albert Kraus vs Giorgio Petrosyan - Entrance K-1 MAX 2010 FINAL on YouTube
  18. ^ "Victoria Moors - Floor Exercise - 2013 AT&T American Cup". USA Gymnastics. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  19. ^ Giorgio Petrosyan [Artsakh] Gegard Mousasi HD on YouTube
  20. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Российская гимнастка Седа Тутхалян исполнила на Олимпиаде вольное упражнение под композицию "Арцах"". newsarmenia.am (in Russian). 7 August 2016.
  22. ^ piibunina (2 June 2016). "Seda Tutkhalyan RUS FX TQ 2016 Euros Bern". Retrieved 28 November 2017 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Adeliya Petrosyan 2021 Russian Junior Chapionships FS on YouTube
  24. ^ Фигурное катание | Армянский танец on YouTube
  25. ^ Հարցազրույց Արա Գևորգյանի հետ (in Armenian). Tert.am. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  26. ^ В "Ледниковом периоде" прозвучала и азербайджанская и армянская композиции (in Russian). News.az. 30 December 2007. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.