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Armenian music is like no other. It has its special melodic pattern and rich sounding. This originality is reached due to the use of original Armenian instruments which have survived from the early Middle Ages – pander and bambir, the violin prototypes; the strings – tavikh and knar; the wind instruments –reed pipe, zurn, avagpog; percussions - drums.
Since ancient times people have sung folk songs of ritual, labor, and military content.
A lot of songs were created by people – about love and marriage, lullabies, and lamentations. The songs were sung by folk singers - gusans. Church and choir music originated in the 5 th century. The songs for choir were called sharakans and were sung during masses and celebrations.
In the 12 th century appeared Armenian music notation called khazes. Urban folk songs and instrumental music was developing using the features of rural songs, the elements of eastern and western cultures. The fragments of songs which have reached us testify about the level of development of Armenian medieval music culture. The singing art of Armenian singers, ashugs, dedicated mostly to the themes of love and everyday life started to develop in the late 17 th century.
In 1868 Chukhadzhyan wrote the first Armenian opera “Arshak II”; the works by A. Spendiarov laid the basis of national classical symphony music; in 1912 A. Tigranan created opera “Anush”.
The beginning of the 19 th century saw the rise of Armenian musical life and creation of new Armenian notation.
The 20 th century presented the world the galaxy of outstanding Armenian composers - Aram Khachaturyan, Mikhael Tariverdiev and Arno Babadzhanyan.
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