Facilitator: Lucineh Hovanissian.
Venue: St John’s Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Time: 2pm-4pm.
Event Description: Armenian Highlands: Many of the names in this area are related with the biblical story about Noah’s descent from Mount Ararat. This very special geographical place, the crossroads between East and West, has given a unique musical tradition.

The greatest Armenian musicologist, composer and teacher Komitas mentioned that there are parallels between the Armenian music and language. Armenian constitutes an independent branch of the Indo-European language family. Similarly, the Armenian music is an independent branch of Oriental music. Komitas was the first discovering the secret of Armenian music. ‘Armenian sacred and folk music are like sister and brother’ said Komitas, who collected about 4000 folk tunes.

In the Armenian musical mentality number four presents the Armenian four handed cross with its equal hands, half tones. Musicological studies show that Armenian monody comes from the early pagan period. Folk tradition preceded the sacred music tradition, which became a branch of Armenian music from the 4th-5th centuries, after the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in 301. Armenia became the first officially Christian country in the world, and it was the most important event in the Armenian age-old history full of tragedies and disasters. In association with Creative Space.
Cost: £15/£10 (Concessions). For a Registration Form:
Contact: Neill Walker, njwalk5300@hotmail.co.uk, 0131 331 4469.