NEAR EASTERN MUSIC

Various orchestras in the Near East have an array of special instruments that only a few Western ears have appreciated over the centuries....nowadays, such music is readily available through recordings of various kinds,which used to be restricted mostly to records, discs of materials no longer used and of various sizes and speeds, familiar to those, like myself, who grew up with such. Wire/tape recorders also helped in this making of 'ethnic','folk', 'traditional' and 'tribal' music available to larger audiences, even if they neither understood or appreciated such, and there are many examples of the 'public's fickle' taste, if not ignorance. Live performances of traditional musics of all kinds usually do not fit the present-day commercial environments unless they are educated, such as, in college and university venues, which do not reach the general public or the 'man on the street' or 'the hermit in the cave' or 'the old farmer' who used to listen to the radio in its 'golden years', like myself.... The Oud or Ud caught my attention years ago when I purchased a 33 speed record(LP) of it and which I still have but have not played for many years...I never attempted to learn any instruments myself, though as a small kid I used to have notions about guitars when others wanted me to consider the violin or 'fiddle' or make me learn to read music and notes before attempting to play, by ear, which was considered by some a 'nono' although my late Uncle Dube, my mother's brother, could play the fiddle by ear and played in a band of sorts in his early days before WWII... Yesterday, I visited Borders which is downsizing its materials and bought some CDs of music: mostly 'belly-dance' of which I shall mention at some other time and discuss, as I am working on a 'TV project about Belly Dance'. I came across a CD entitled 'THE BEST OF ARMENIAN FOLK MUSIC' with Richard A.Hagopian, which I immediately snatched up, having known some Armenians in my youn ger days and also having been intriqued by their 'alphabet' that unusual 'looping' script that only they seem able to read...... If those of you who recall my fondness for things 'GURDJIEFFIAN' you will be also aware that his mother was Armenian and he lived in what was part of Armenia and refers to several things in his book entitled MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MEN that concern Armenia which was at one time a separate 'nation/kingdom' until taken over by the Turks and Russians,etc......but I shall not go into the masscre of them....except to say I had a friend who escaped such and jumped ship in Marsailles, France along with some other refuggees at the time and came to this country where he became a cook in a local restaurant where my mother waitressed and became good friends with him and the Greeks who ran it......it was called 'THE PLEASANT SWEET(SUITE) and was on Pleasant Street for many years......now long gone.... I cannot describe the listening to this music but it does have some things in common with Arabic,Turkish,Greek and Persian music, which includes many other areas, extending to India and beyond to some extent....Hagopian, was known to me before but I have not any specific recordings by his efforts, until now...... Much mention of the 'Greek' aspect of Gurdjieff's life has been made but not enough, in my estimation, about his 'Armenian' side, which is some respects, may be partly the reasons for his 'dualisms' and his conflict with 'Yes' and 'No' and his presentations of struggle in various forms and in the dances....when I was in college, I became aware of this 'cultural diversity/division' between Greeks and Armenians who were in my student circle and dormitory at UNH but i did not succumb to taking either side but looked at each for the persons they were,at least as my meager understanding of life at that time would allow me to do so......but the basic enmity could not be ignored...which made me wonder why G's father married an Armenian...but then she was 'a remarkable person, a remarkable womman' and the mother of GURDJIEFF, a 'remarkable man' himself to say the very least.........This fusion of two ancient cultures is probably one reason why G insisted on the 'union of East & Weat' in the manner in which he did.....which i shall not explore here beyond this assumption on my part..... I,however, feel that ARMENIAN MUSIC had a greater influence on Gurdjieff's music and writings and other things than most realize but I have no real proof that it did so...at this time....Many have assumed it was dervish dancing, Turkish music, and other Asian melodies and the like that worked their way into his creations perhaps....He, of course, was influenced by Russia and Russian Church Religion and the like and was buried with RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ceremonies although some say, Greek Orthodox, but the similarities and connections be tween these and some of the more ancient religions of the Near East and Early Christianity cannot be overlooked and, in fact, some of the pre-Christian/pagan beliefs and music are involved......but tracing the music is perhaps easier than doing the doctrines, concepts, practices, etc. of such.....GURDJIEFF only gives hints in his sytem about all this, which is controversial for many...