"Catskilleen Jampan" (The Road to the Catskills)

This series of videos created by Ara Dinkdjian documents various aspects of Armenian-American musical life. In the late 19th century, music and singing were an integral part of the life of newly created Armenian-American communities. After the Genocide, this aspect of community life was further bolstered and enriched by the large number of new refugees arriving in droves from the Ottoman Empire.

Armenian-American music, songs, and instruments that represent the genre known as “kef (feast) music” provide us with a unique perspective into the culture of Ottoman Armenians. These artistic creations are the true cultural legacy that Armenian refugees carried with them from their native cities and villages to America when they emigrated. We believe that in the United States, this cultural legacy was preserved in its most authentic form. Naturally, this music evolved, and continues to evolve, as a result of local influences, but it has always remained faithful to its origins. Perhaps this can be explained by the fact that in the United States, in the post-Genocide era, Armenian community institutions were not as powerful as elsewhere in the world. In other locales, these institutions led comprehensive efforts to eradicate what they saw as eastern or Turkish influences from Armenian art and culture, thus forcing Armenian music to change. These efforts met with great success in cities like Yerevan, Beirut, and Aleppo, where Armenian music and singing became much more uniform.

By watching Ara Dinkdjian’s videos, we obtain a better understanding of the diversity of Armenian culture, one unique aspect of which is Armenian-American music.