This weekend I've seen three very different sorts of Armenian music in less than 24 hours, and all were cool in their own way. In chronological order...
Oddly, two of these guys are sons of members of the hippest band in Soviet Armenia -- also called Bambir, and also featuring the flute.
Then this morning, I went to Echmiadzin, the holiest city in Armenia and saw this female choir singing at the service:
I will be giving you a full report on my visits to various churches in Armenia soon. Lots of interesting things to compare and contrast with Georgia. And after Armenia, it's pretty much all Muslims for the rest of the trip.
Finally, on my way back to the hotel I ran across this traditional troupe of singers singing songs of this guy. But the star was definitely the little girl dancing. Clearly this music is in Armenians' blood -- you take an American toddler and put her in that situation and she's not going to be dancing like that.
Bambir::::sounds like Ian Anderson there...lil osmosis of flute playing..nice...amazing how Tull influences us and world music vice versa...Im kind..i like it...partially because I'm a Tull-nut. Interesting.
Posted by: Kurt Nighswander | May 20, 2007 at 10:50 PM