Hello my dear readers, today I want to introduce you the history of Armenian music.
Armenian folk music is totally different from what we hear now in media. Armenian music roots goes back to the centuries.
Earlier, instruments like a kamancha, has been played by popular travelling musicians called Ashoughs. One of the famous ashough was Sayat-Nova (Harutyun Sayatyan). He was 18th century famous Armenian poet, musician and ashough, who has compositions in number of languages: Armenian Georgian, Azerbaijani and Persian.
Armenian folk music is unity of different instrumental sounds: duduk, zurna, shvi, dhol, kanun, qamancha.
Of course not all of those instruments are Armenian, some of them are originally Persian.
Here, I would like to remember about duduk as an originally Armenian musical instrument.
Its a double-reed woodwind flute made of apricot wood. Armenian musicologist cite evidence of duduk's use as early as 1200 BC, however western scholars believe that it is 1500 years old. The history of Armenian duduk songs dated to the reign of the Armenian king Tigran The Great (95-55 BC). According to ethnomusicologist Dr. Jonathan McCollum "its the only truly Armenian instrument, that's survived through history and as such is a symbol of Armenian national identity.The most important quality of the duduk is its ability to express the language dialectic and mood of Armenian language, which is often the most challenging quality of duduk player."
The sounds of duduk has become known to wider audience through its use in popular film soundtracks (Gladiator, Syrianna, Blood Diamond).
When it comes to the classical music, we had huge number of great composers. But here I will mention few of them: Alexsander Spendiarov, Armen Tigranian, Arno Babajanyan, Aram Khachaturyan who was internationally well known specially for his ballets and the immortal "Sabre Dance" from his "Gayane" ballet.
Nowadays, Armenian new generation is much more involved in classical music, we have a great opera singers, pianists, violinists, composers.
Armenian religious music remained liturgical until in the end of 19th century, when Komitas introduced polyphony. From 1899 to 1910 he traveled through Armenian highland and collected more than 3000 folk tunes, many of which he harmonized and transformed.
First Jazz band of Armenia was founded in 1936 by composer Tsolak Vardazaryan. In 1938, composer Artemi Ayvazyan, firstly in USSR founded The Armenian State Jazz Orchestra. Orchestra's first drummer Robert Yolchyan had became a legend of Soviet and Armenian Jazz, successfully developed his own style during the decades and continued to play and gave master-classes until his death in early 2000s.Later on Konstantin Orbelyan organized estrada quintet of Armenian Radio.
Nowadays there are many Jazz band in Yerevan, which are actively performing high standarts music.
Many Armenian youngsters are also fan of Rock music. And of course they will not be any single Armenian who will not like whole world famous System Of A Down rock band.
Its true, that this band is founded in United State, but those four guys have Armenian descent (Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan).
Even if I am not so much fan of rock music, however the music which this guys are representing, its like a sounds of Armenian soul, it's a history, it's a tragedy. it's more than music. and I don't think that there would be any single Armenian ,who will understand the words of their songs, but will not like it.
Armenian folk music is totally different from what we hear now in media. Armenian music roots goes back to the centuries.
Earlier, instruments like a kamancha, has been played by popular travelling musicians called Ashoughs. One of the famous ashough was Sayat-Nova (Harutyun Sayatyan). He was 18th century famous Armenian poet, musician and ashough, who has compositions in number of languages: Armenian Georgian, Azerbaijani and Persian.
Armenian folk music is unity of different instrumental sounds: duduk, zurna, shvi, dhol, kanun, qamancha.
Of course not all of those instruments are Armenian, some of them are originally Persian.
Here, I would like to remember about duduk as an originally Armenian musical instrument.
The sounds of duduk has become known to wider audience through its use in popular film soundtracks (Gladiator, Syrianna, Blood Diamond).
When it comes to the classical music, we had huge number of great composers. But here I will mention few of them: Alexsander Spendiarov, Armen Tigranian, Arno Babajanyan, Aram Khachaturyan who was internationally well known specially for his ballets and the immortal "Sabre Dance" from his "Gayane" ballet.
Armenian religious music remained liturgical until in the end of 19th century, when Komitas introduced polyphony. From 1899 to 1910 he traveled through Armenian highland and collected more than 3000 folk tunes, many of which he harmonized and transformed.
First Jazz band of Armenia was founded in 1936 by composer Tsolak Vardazaryan. In 1938, composer Artemi Ayvazyan, firstly in USSR founded The Armenian State Jazz Orchestra. Orchestra's first drummer Robert Yolchyan had became a legend of Soviet and Armenian Jazz, successfully developed his own style during the decades and continued to play and gave master-classes until his death in early 2000s.Later on Konstantin Orbelyan organized estrada quintet of Armenian Radio.
Nowadays there are many Jazz band in Yerevan, which are actively performing high standarts music.
Many Armenian youngsters are also fan of Rock music. And of course they will not be any single Armenian who will not like whole world famous System Of A Down rock band.
Its true, that this band is founded in United State, but those four guys have Armenian descent (Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan).
Even if I am not so much fan of rock music, however the music which this guys are representing, its like a sounds of Armenian soul, it's a history, it's a tragedy. it's more than music. and I don't think that there would be any single Armenian ,who will understand the words of their songs, but will not like it.
There are large number of musicians with Armenian descent living outside of Armenia.
Here I can't forget Franc-Armenian artist Charles Aznavour, American -Armenian pop artist Cher, rock keyboard legend Derek Sherinian, Armenian -Iranian artist Andy Madadian, Armenian-Iranian jazz and pop legend Vigen Derderian, Armenian-American pianist/keyboardist/composer Danny Bedrosian, violinist Sergey Khachatryan and etc.
Armenian music culture is very rich, it has and traditional and modern aspects, where everyone can find music of his own character and personality.
Love and Peace
No comments:
Post a Comment