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LUSIN CHI KAR MOUT GISHER ER http://www.azg.am/AM/culture/2013050401 An excellent article by the chief editor Hakob Avetiqian in AZG-Culture. The primary theme of the article is about the publication of a most complete songbook, with over 2000 songs, be they classical, modern, patriotic or romantic Inspired and financed by the Khachatourian family of the Kohar ensemble fame. Beside the general knowledge , the author speaks about his personal experience about the prevailing musical environment in Beirut and Aleppo, where those who had a phonograph would have stacks and stacks of furkish records, and when shortwave radio became available, how every shoemaker shop and jewelers store had the dial ser at radio ankagara and sang along those furkish songs. until the 1960s, after the Armenian National Ensemble, under the baton of Tatul Alrunian toured the area, after which all those shoemakers and jewelers began singing Yes Im Anush Hayastani. He also talks about that restaurant-night club in Aleppo, which he calls Mataam al A,mian. Literally - Restaurant of the Blind, named so as it was established by three blind violinists (Armenian) , where the main theme was furkish music. I do remember that night club at the extension of Auleymanieh avenue, we knew it as Do-Re-Mi. **** Here he talks about the time when in America, at a wedding procession they were singing the not so joyful song Te Hayremyats Psakadir, where we see the line Goghtni Qnarq Lrel En. Lyres of Goght are silenced, which has nothing to do with a wedding celebration, except the word psak/wedding., it is a somber and tragic song about the Vardananq, where the definitive line - Astvats Ijel e I Gerezman,(Hayastan) Hayots Ariiunn Hototel./God has descended at the Graveyard to smell the blood of Armenians.** In the Diaspora marriage is known as amousnanal, while in the EA they call it psakvel/crowned. http://www.yerkaran.org/koghti-knark/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe4XaVwAN6w Compare. Traditional Wedding; Then we come to the traditional song sung by the bridal parade the night before the wedding by the grooms party on their way to the brides house to sing and dance. Lusin Chikar Mut Gisher er Moonless and Dark Night Yeprem Khani yerg@ Which is not a joyful song either. about the fatal fate of Yeprem.*** http://asbarez.com/arm/88048/ I do remember that tradition. In fact, one moonless and miserably wet night we heard a commotion, we went to window, and sure enough, a procession singing that song as they walked to the bride’s house. Moonless indeed. It was a miserable rainy night, yet the paraders were singing and dancing under their umbrellas. That is those who had one. ** In a song book I have, published in New York, 1919, aside to the angels at Ararat the author takes the liberty to sanitize this passage to - “Let God Himself the heavens rend, To come and judge our Cause” *** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeprem_Khan His given name was Barsegh Tiriaskian ****Johannes, does that night club still exist? PS. For obvious reasons, I will post the entire article in Armenian eparately, to follow.