Folklore Music Page 1
The music of Armenia has its origins in Anatolia and the Caucasus Mountains, where people traditionally sang popular folk songs, usually sung by Ashugs, the most famous one probably being Sayat Nova. Armenians have had a long tradition of Folk music from the Antiquity and during the Ottoman times.
Instruments played include kanun (dulcimer), davul (double-headed hand drum), oud (lute), duduk, zurna, blul (ney), shvi and to a lesser degree saz. Other instruments are often used such as violin and clarinet.
The duduk is Armenia's national instrument, and among its well-known performers are Margar Margarian, Levon Madoyan, Saro Danielian, Vatche Hovsepian, Gevorg Dabaghyan and Yeghish Manoukian, as well as Armenia's most famous duduk player, Djivan Gasparyan.