INTERVIEW WITH BELLA PAPIKYAN AND HER MUSICAL JOURNEY

Could you share with our readers how you first discovered the qanun and what made you choose it as your primary instrument?

I was born in musicians family. My father is a professional musician and a music teacher . I was six years old when I did my first steps into music industry . Deep in my heart I wanted to study the piano , but my family encouraged me to choose the qanun, so I’ll be able to play both instruments in the future . And it was wise decision as now I mastered both instruments.

The qanun has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Middle Eastern music. What aspects of this instrument and its musical tradition resonate with you the most?

The Qanun is an ancient stringed instrument widely played around the Middle East, North Africa, western Asia, and eastern Europe. Qanun is very common traditional instrument in Armenia which is my hometown. It is a type of zither, played while seated. Besides plucking its tuned strings, players also manipulate levels that adjust the strings’ pitch on the fly. The result is a cascading, mellow sound requiring both skill and personal flair from the player.

The qanun has a distinct and enchanting sound. Can you describe how you go about creating different tones and moods using this instrument?

Musicians play the Qanun by using mediators on index finger and put the thumb below the string they want to make sound from . By mastering the instrument we learn how to use all of our fingers to create more unique sounds ,giving the instrument more flexibility which create different tunes. As a result we make our fingers deliver the deep feelings and emotions that artistic souls have within to the listeners.

In addition to traditional Middle Eastern music, the qanun has been incorporated into various contemporary genres. Have you explored any non-traditional styles or experimented with fusion music? If so, how was that experience?

I’ve studied in 2 musical schools and graduated from the conservatory carrying the bachelors degree in musical art . In the music school I learned how to perform and master the instrument with its full potential while in conservatory I learned how to put the feelings into motions. I studied all the music genres including fusion, eastern, jazz and classical. I’ve participated in many international music festivals representing my country and honored to be awarded the Grand Prix. My style of music is very spacious and I’m developing my skills in almost every genre to be able to bring this instrument into international audience. when you’re coming from a professional musician’s family the pressure to be the best is on its highest level. To master any instrument takes hard work and dedication. I’ve been practicing day and night for so many hours to exceed not only my family’s but also my teacher’s expectations as I was a student of the most well known professor in the region.

Mastering any instrument takes time and dedication. What challenges have you encountered on your journey with the qanun, and how have you overcome them?

Could you share some of your favorite musical pieces or compositions that you love to perform on the qanun? What makes them special to you?

I actually have three favorite pieces. The first one is a very special composition to me ,which is an Armenian melody called Sirelis (My Darling). My Armenian roots and culture had a huge impact on