Cultural analysis on religious music practices of Istanbul Armenian Apostolic community

This study evaluates the relationship between the music and ritual performances of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Istanbul and the cultural dimension of these performances. At the outset, the study provides a survey of the Armenian history and culture and, then, focuses on the Armenian church music. Evaluating the musical practices as an audial component of rituals, I first present the religious principles as well as the meaning and function of musical performances of the liturgy. The rituals and musical practices of the Armenian Apostolic Church are reviewed in the light of ethnomusicological framework based on philosophical, theological, and historical grounds through field work and theoretical methodology. The ancient Armenian monophonic performance can be divided into two as "recitative" and "modal." The recitative tradition requires reciting of the scriptures in a non-melodic tone similar to that of poetry reading. However, psalms, hymns (sharagan), and spiritual songs are sung in modal and melodic patterns. These two structures have mingled with priests reciting from sacred texts while singers respond in a melodic way. In addition, it is clear that nationalism, which was influential all over the world in the 19th century, along with modernisation have also affected Apostolic Armenian religious music in different ways. While the ancient Armenian Church music was monophonically performed by singers (tbrats tas) at the beginning, it has employed a polyphonic structure in time by giving emphasis on the Armenian identity and music, including men and women alike in the performances, and occasionally accompanying the organ. The most notable founders of this structure are the Armenian composers and musicologists Komitas and Yegmalyan. Built on the ancient music tradition, this new application of church music has led to ongoing debates between the traditionalists and modernists in the Armenian community concerning how the Armenian religious music should be practiced.