Armenian music has centuries of history in the world of music. Armenian music has contributed some of the most beautiful tunes and melodies
to Armenian culture. In fact,
Armenian music is a large part of of the Armenian culture and Armenian reality.
With hundreds of Armenian singers and Armenian songs
the Armenian culture is home to some of the world's most beautiful and enjoyable music.
Armenian music of all genres and styles contributed to the Armenian culture in its own unique way.
In an effort to make Armenian
music attainable to Armenians worldwide, HyeVibes.com has been set up. HyeVibes.com is the internet's only live Armenian music
radio station playing all Armenian music all the time, 24 hours a day - seven days a week.
HyeVibes.com allows you
to listen to Armenian music anywhere in the world. This live Armenian music, broadcast from Glendale California, brings real
time Armenian music to your home or office, allowing you to listen to your favorite Armenian songs from a large variety of
Armenian singers.
If there are Armenian singers or Armenian songs you would like to listen to, please contact hyevibes.com
and they will add it to their
Armenian music library.
Armenia is in the Caucasus Mountains, and Armenian music is a mix of indigenous folk music, perhaps best-represented
by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music, as well as light pop similar to nearby Middle-Eastern countries, and extensive
Christian music, due to Armenia's status as the oldest Christian nation in the world. Armenian immigrant communities have
maintained their folk traditions, especially in the area around Fresno, California.
Christian music
Melismatic
chanting, composed in one of eight modes, is the most common kind of religious music in Armenia. It is written in khaz, a
form of indigenous musical notation. Many of these chants are ancient in origin, extending to pre-Christian times, while others
are relatively modern, including several composed by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, who invented the Armenian alphabet. Some of the
best performers of these chants, or sharakans, are at the Holy Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, and include the late soprano Lucine
Zakarian.
Armenian music of religion remained liturgical until Komitas Vardapet introduced polyphony in the end of
the 19th century. He collected more than 3,000 folk songs from 1899 to 1910.
Folk music
While under Soviet domination,
Armenian music of the folk nature was taught in a rigidly controlled manner at conservatoires. Instruments played in this
way include kanon (dulcimer), davul (double-headed hand drum), oud (lute), tar (short-necked lute) and zurna (shawm). The
duduk is especially important, and its stars include Gevorg Dabagian and Yeghish Manoukian, as well as Armenia's most famous
musician, Dijvan Gasparyan.
Earlier in Armenian history, instruments like the kamancha were played by popular, travelling
musicians called ashoughs. Sayat Nova, an 18th century, ashough, is still revered, as are more modern performers like Rouben
Matevosian and Hovhaness Badalian.
The Armenian Diaspora
In 1915, during the Armenian Genocide, the Young Turk regime
killed a large number of Armenians in the eastern part of Turkey, and oppressed Armenian culture, leading to widespread emigration.
These emigrants settled in various countries, especially in Central California, and the second- and third-generation have
kept their folk traditions alive, with oud-player Richard Hagopian being perhaps the most famous of these musicians.
Classical
and pop music
Armenian classical composers include Kemani Tatyos Ekserciyan, one of the most well-remembered composers
of Ottoman classical music.
In pop music, Suzan Yakar and Udi Hrant Kenkulian were famous cabaret singers of the 1920s
and 30s, while more modern Armenian pop stars include Gagik Gevorkian, Harout Pamboukjian, Gayane and emigre Adiss Harmandian.
Armenian-American
pop singers and groups include Cher, whose real name is Cher Sarkissian and the popular hard rock band System of a Down.
