"I am a representative of a nation that has a magnificent, powerful musical culture": Tigran Hamasyan's melodies resonating with national motifs

We suggest reading Hamasyan's thoughts by listening to his music.

Tigran Hamasyan is telling. 

The family…

I am grateful to my family, particularly my uncle, who played a pivotal role in shaping my musical taste from the age of three, noticing that music attracts me more than, for example, games and toys. It's crucial, especially in the life of artists, to have the right people as guides in the initial period of their creative journey. 

I have various favorite activities, such as watching art movies, reading books and more. However, spending time with my family is the most preferred one. Raising a child is a difficult and responsible task, which I consider one of the most important missions in my life.

And a melody is born…

When I create, I find myself in a state of mind where a unique harmony of feelings and thoughts emerges. There is neither overthinking nor overwhelming emotions; everything seems to be in order. I appear in the world of music, where I hear nothing but music.

I rarely compose music with a specific purpose in mind; this occurs when I need to convey a particular emotion, such as for a specific scene in a movie.

Sometimes I read or listen to something and then, when I create music, I understand that this is a reflection of what I read and felt in the past.

There are moments that I cannot explain. I simply feel that I want to play and music is born.

Improvisation is also incredibly interesting; any music is born from improvisation. In mere seconds, your thoughts and emotions become a melody. 

National motifs in Tigran Hamasyan’s music…

Jazz musician, pianist Vahagn Hayrapetyan taught me the subtleties of mastering jazz through the traditional art of improvisation. During that period, I was not interested in any other genre of music except jazz. Then I understood that improvisational music is not limited solely to classical, European scales.

Furthermore, I came to realize that I am a representative of a nation that has a magnificent, powerful musical culture. And I started to listen to our national music a lot and then to use its elements in my own work.

I believe that genes have a crucial role and significance in both creating and presenting the work to an audience. For the Armenian audience, the connection to music rooted in national motifs isn't gradual; rather, it fosters a sense of connection, allowing them to understand their origins deeply.

I often liken musical rhythms to the patterns in Armenian carpets. In general, Armenian folk music has drawn me to ancient Armenian ornaments, and the opposite also happens when I find appropriate rhythms by delving into my roots. 

Music is always about something…

Music has always been and is about something. In the early stages of human history, it was about ritual. In my view, this perception is subconsciously ingrained in representatives of all nations worldwide. Originally, music was not intended for the stage. Later it encapsulated stories within itself before eventually going on stage.

It's this thought that keeps running through my head and makes me create every project so that it has a story. Even if it is not about something specific, I try to build the program, the concert or the melody in such a way that they encapsulate a story and drama in themselves. This approach makes people open their hearts to various emotions.

The audience…

Each nation has its specific features, each accepts the artist in its own way, which is particularly determined by the cultural characteristics of the given nation.

In megacities, people are free to express their feelings; for instance, they may sing melodies along with the playing. In Japan, people think whether to applaud or not. 

In Armenia, it’s completely different; here people feel Armenianness on a profoundly different level, and emotionally, performing here is powerful.  

According to Hamasyan, freedom is...

People have their own creation style. For me, freedom is found in those moments when you leave the spacetime, feel and listen only to the music, and thoughts fade away. This is what freedom is...