The single-named composer and ethnomusicologist Komitas may be regarded as the founder of the Armenian national school in classical music. Komitas was born Soghomon Soghomonian. Upon being ordained as a vardapet ("priest") in 1894, he took the name Komitas in memory of a medieval Armenian musician by that name; he is sometimes known as Komitas Vardapet. In 1899, Komitas returned to Etchmiadzin, began teaching, and formed his own choir. He wrote large amounts of music for that choir, much of which is still performed today in Armenian Orthodox circles. For many years, Komitas was known primarily in Armenia, but the 21st century has seen a revival of interest in his work. Pianist Steffen Schleiermacher issued the album Folk Tunes in 2021, comparing music by Komitas and Béla Bartók. In 2023, cellist Mikayel Hakhnazaryan and pianist Lia Hakhnazaryan included his song Krunk on their album Inner World.