I wrote this letter to a friend last year. She didn’t have the answer but maybe somebody else does:
I don’t know if you can answer this question but you know more about Armenian music than anyone I know so I figured it was worth a shot. I discovered that after the genocide a handful of Armenian orphans were adopted by Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia. These children would later become the first official orchestra of his nation and compose Ethiopia’s national anthem. I don’t know how well versed in Bob Marley and Reggae music you are, but the Rastafarian movement considered Haile a living god and Ethiopia spiritual home of their people.
I am curious how much influence Armenian music had on the roots of what is today considered Reggae? The Ethiopian emperor was very fond of Armenian music and Rastafarians look toward him for inspiration. It would be interesting to see if the folk and church hymns of Armenian had any influence on a music now popular the world over?
Sure got me. I’ve never heard Armenian or Ethiopian music. I was thinking herbage and loose rhythm based on the off-beat, but that might be the heartbeat of either country. Bo Diddly always complained about getting “the Bo Diddly beat” thieved from him, but you can hear that same beat in any Irish bar…that drum…the bohdrain, or whatever it is. The Bo Diddly beat, straight out of Appalachia via ancient Ireland. Following the roots of music is so subjective I can’t believe they have classes in the origins of musical styles. Some guy with a couple of femurs beating on a log, I’m guessing. Good luck with that search. The minor key hum of the Earth could be the rhythmic muse.
Later…
Yes, there should also be a Santana tax, since 90% of jam bands these days seem to have stolen riffs directly from “Black Magic Woman.” It’s amazing that certain musical genres exist simply because of 2 minute long guitar or drum solo in certain songs.