Description

I spoke to Ethnomusicologist Sylvia Alajaji for a long-form podcast on her incredible book: Music and the Armenian Diaspora.  Our discussion touches upon her fascinating research and our own complicated Armenian backgrounds. 

Besides our own family histories, we discuss Sylvia's research into the various figures (ranging from the Armenian Priest Komitas to the Metal Band System of a Down) who have influenced Armenian Music, and more broadly how a diverse and eclectic sound of 'Armenian Music' has survived Genocide and emerged as a cohesive movement from the far-flung global Diaspora of Armenians

For more w. Sylvia, please check out her book (which I would recommend to anyone who wants to better understand Armenians) Music and the Armenian Diaspora: https://iupress.org/9780253017611/music-and-the-armenian-diaspora/

Sylvia also recommended to following songs for those who want to do a 'deep dive' into Armenian Music:

• "'Ariur Ar 'Ariur" by Collectif Medz Bazar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRFQ_amDp_U&ab_channel=CollectifMedzBazar)
• "Yegur Yegur" performed by the Tatoul Altounian Ensemble (https://soundcloud.com/user-443604653/yegur-yegur)
• "Monk's Robes" by Angel Deradoorian (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYod_bu5hu4&ab_channel=ANTI-Records)--this is as "Armenian" as a System of a Down song (in other words, it's  definitely western) but she's an Armenian artist, so it may be nice to  include to bring attention to Armenian artists who aren't household  names
• "Hayvalla" performed by Onnik Dinkjian and Roupen Altiparmakian
• "Kef Life" by Ara Dinkjian (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4UMpWvyjhk&ab_channel=M.Hassan)
• "Greeted by Tir (Տիր)" by Lara Sarkissian (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzBdOcA07Yc&ab_channel=LaraSarkissian-Topic)--this is a bit more cerebral and not as accessible but I would love for her to be better known. Here's a great article about her.

Music for this episode is Soldier's March and Camel's Caravan: Aslanian's Armenian Orchestra. Courtesy of the Library of Congress