Arşak Efendi Çömlekçiyan

(1880-1930)

Songwriter and lute (ud) player of Armenian origin. Arşak was born and died in Gedikpaşa, Istanbul. He learned music from Kirkor Çulhayan and violin player Tatyos. He was known as a popular ud player, and later he opened a music shop and started to publish notations. Çömlekçiyan was known for his efforts to raise his son and famous violist, Nubar Tekyay. Fasıl magazine, Piyasa tavrında yazılmış was published by ud player Onnik Zadoryan between 1922 and 1924. Arşak Çömlekçiyan composed intermediate chants for many songs, and taught music in a Turkish school. He died in the Armenian hospital.