[1] He is best-known for his part in arranging the music to Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland), the Armenian national anthem.

[citation needed] In 1888 his family moved to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), where he received his primary education in Gedikpaşa Armenian school.

In 1903, Ganatchian studied playing the piano and harmony in Bucharest, returning to Istanbul in 1908, where he formed the "Knar" wind orchestra (in Armenian «Քնար»).

Starting in 1920, Ganatchian continued his musical education in Paris, France, and from 1922 worked in conducting in various Armenian diaspora venues.

[citation needed] In 1928, he moved to Nicosia, Cyprus, where he taught music at the prestigious Melkonian Educational Institute and from 1933 at Neshan Palandjian College (Djemaran) in Beirut, Lebanon.