An interview with Ara Dinkjian

		Armenian saz, ud and kanun virtuoso Ara Dinkjian is well known in Turkey for the many popular songs he has composed
		Ara Dinkjian

İstanbul / Osman Kaytazoğlu, English-Mehmet Akgül
NTV-MSNBC

November 1 — “Sarışınım” (My Blonde One), sung by famous Turkish singer Sezen Aksu and “Ağladıkça” (As I Cry), sung by Ahmet Kaya, are two of the many songs composed by Ara Dinkjian. His career spans 15 years, with the group Night Ark, which he plays in together with Arto Tunçboyacıyan. Ara Dinkjian, whose new album “Treasures,” was recently released, spoke with NTV-MSNBC about his experience as an Eastern musician living in the West.

Do you think RCA entered into a contract with you because world music is currently in fashion?

The cover of Night Ark's new album, "Treasures."

Record companies love popular trends. When I made an agreement with RCA in 1985 “New Age” music was very popular and they thought my music was “New Age.” Naturally, I did not enter into an argument with them. Now they see my music as “World Music,” “World Beat,” or “Ethno-pop.” These are categories the music world makes up, not the musicians. Duke Ellington rejected the term “jazz” in an interview in the 50s. He had said that “this is the music of my people.” I too am saying, “this is my people’s music.”

You value the heritage of Armenian music immensely. Do you wish to work in this manner with renowned masters, like Djwan Gasparyan and Gevorg Dabagian?

I hope one day to work with these musicians. Musicians in my group are also world class musicians. However, they are not world renowned, because they do not yet have contracts.

How do American musiclovers see your music?

American musiclovers like the sound of my music, however, they cannot enter my music deeply as do musiclovers in Yerevan and İstanbul. So as a result I give concerts mainly in the Middle East and Europe.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest album, “Treasures”?

”Treasures” is a compilation album, giving a summary of my work, except the period of 1986-88. It tells the musical thoughts of an Armenian living in New York whose parents were from Diyarbakır (Southeastern Turkey). Obviously there are degrees of differences in these thoughts.

You have a long-standing friendship with Arto Tunçboyacıyan. Apart from sharing common thoughts on Armenian music with Arto, can you enlighten us about your relationship with him?

I met Arto 17 years ago in New York. We all of a sudden found ourselves jamming together. We have played together on a number of occasions with other groups and Night Ark. We had always dreamed of this. I think we are now musically engaged to each other. This collaboration is going to make me happy forever. He is such a talented world class musician.

The musical heritage of Turkey, Iran and Armenia are based on similar, shared facts. You have now entered the American element into this...?

Yes, this geography’s music has so many important things in common. However, there are some definite differences in them. For me it is such an incredible feeling to research and discover these differences. I also believe there is now an American perspective coming into this music. For example, I learned about playing certain instruments and their styles from the East and from the West I learned harmony and arrangement. Obviously it seems okay, quite regular and fashionable now. But I was doing this music before it became this popular. In other words, one of my feet is in the East and another is in the West.

Famous Turkish singers like Sezen Aksu, Coşkun Sabah and Kibariye sang songs you composed. Which is your favorite?

It is a great chance for me that some of Turkey’s biggest names have sung my compositions. These singers — Sezen, Kibariye and Coşkun — were great in performing my work. It is very hard for me to say which was better or to select a favorite. The most important thing is for the performer to put his stamp of identity on these pieces. I think they were all fantastic.

What do you think about a concert in Diyarbakır?

My biggest dream is to perform in Diyarbakır. I want to go there and see where my great grandparents lived and find recordings of Celal Güzelses and of course stage a concert.

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