Armenian music - past and present

[sen_Vahan]

Having one of the unique musical lads we,armenians, listen mainly to some eastern mixture - the so-called RABIZ. I spent much time in Armenia,Russia,US and what I see everywhere is that we,guys, do not really know and appreciate armenian,real armenian, music. What is the reason? People are tired listening to national melodies or they just don't know about the existance of that? I am not very conservative but I think armenians (especially young ones and children) need some education.What do you think?

Vahan

[sen_Vahan]

The basis of RABIZ - so respected among Armenians-is mainly Turkish music(and sometimes Iranian). That's interesting why Armenians do not like Turks? I respect German music, Russian, Georgian,..., so, I respect these nations too. As it is usually said the music is the spirit of people. So, Armenians like that Turkish spirit but do not like Turkish people. That's strange...

Vahan

[Arpa]

It is the duty of the leaders of a people, be they political, social, educational or artistic to educate and teach. For those who pander to the base instincts of the mob rather than use their pulpit to educate, there may be another label. You know, the one applied to the practitioners of the"oldest profession"

[sen_Vahan]

Harut,

So, is that all right that people take different folk and represent it as Armenian? The propblem is that Armenians themselves do that and loooots of other compatriots listen to that mixture.I will not be surprised if I some day an Armenian listening to Turkish will say:"Hey, this is cheating!!! They took our music!"

Vahan

[MosJan]

HSat bAri yes k@spasem mi qani or yev@s, minj im kartsik@s haytne@

 

miyayn iyn asem vro shat xist em verabervum iys temmayin.

 

MOvses

[Harut]

Vahan jan, i didn't put my words in correct way, and apparently you didn't understand me (neither did Arpa).

what i meant was that Rabiz as a style should not be regarded as something worthless. of course, there are many anmakardak and tkhmar works of rabiz.

but, what i see as problem with Rabiz is that it is interpreted as Armenian Folk music, while most of rabiz works are based on foreign traditions.
and of course, i don't approve this. this is not OK at all.

and by my last sentance i meant to say that while people take it that way (rabiz as true Armenian music) it's going to be produced and presented that way. again, not that this is the correct thing to do.

and as Arpa said, leaders should educate people. but, akhr, those leaders are so few, and often they don't know anything themselves.
and what i notice lately, people pay less and less attantion to those Armenian banimats leaders.

[Harut]

i find no problem in Rabiz style of music.

the problem is, like you said, education.

those musicians themeselves don't know what Armenian and what's not.

and what bothers people, who don't like Rabiz, is that those musicians take foreign music and almost without any modifications present it as Armenian folk music.

 

but nevertheless, if that's what people like then that's what people going to get.