All Of It with Alison Stewart – Astghik Martirosyan Performs Live

Date: November 14, 2023
Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Guest: Astghik Martirosyan (Pianist, Composer, Vocalist)
Episode Theme: Exploring identity, culture, and musical innovation with Armenian-born, New York–based artist Astghik Martirosyan, including conversation and live performance from her debut album "Distance."

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the intersection of cultural heritage, jazz, and personal expression through the artistry of Astghik Martirosyan. Host Alison Stewart invites Martirosyan to discuss her roots, her fusion of jazz with Armenian folk tradition, and the emotional currents underlying her debut album, "Distance," shaped by separation, conflict, and longing for peace. The episode is highlighted by live performances in the studio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Astghik Martirosyan & "Distance"

• Alison Stewart introduces Martirosyan as an Armenian-born, New York–based musician blending jazz with Armenian folk.
• The creation of the album "Distance" was deeply influenced by Martirosyan's experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Armenia (02:00).
• Her music is described as an emotional response to the turmoil, transforming pain and hope for peace into sound.

2. The Story Behind "Silence" and Artistic Beginnings

• Martirosyan on "Silence":
  • Inspiration came from Emily Dickinson's poem: “I many times thought peace had come when peace was far away.”
  • Written during the 2020 war, while Martirosyan was isolated in Boston.
  • Formed the emotional cornerstone of the album and was chosen as the opening track (03:15).
  • Quote:
    • “That was the moment that I really felt like I’m ready to write music and put this into music. And I guess ‘Silence’ is where it all started.” (03:50)
• Live Performance:
  • Performed “Silence” with Joe Martin (bass) and Carl Uzbek (drums) (04:25–09:09).
• Reaction:
  • Alison Stewart: “That was beautiful. Thank you so much for that.” (09:09)

3. Musical Upbringing and Introduction to Jazz

• Martirosyan’s background:
  • Born into a musician’s family; mother is an opera singer.
  • Born in St. Petersburg, raised surrounded by music and theaters.
  • Piano studies began at age 5 by family expectation but became “part of me, really.” (09:25)
• Discovering Jazz:
  • Introduced to jazz via the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra, thanks to a family connection.
  • Inspired by attending orchestra rehearsals and received mentorship from Armen Husnunt.
  • First jazz performance at age 14, and spent 5 years performing with the orchestra (10:05–11:03).
  • Memorable quote:
    • “I heard the orchestra for the first time and I was so inspired.” (10:34)

4. Armenian Musical Notation and Folk Tradition

• Armenian Notation System:
  • Earliest form “Khazr” originates in the 7th/8th century; now only a few can read it.
  • Modernized in 14th century and primarily used for religious and folk music.
  • Armenian intervals are distinct and “impossible to notate with Western notation system.” (11:27)
• Cultural Rhythms:
  • Folk music’s rhythm and sound often stem from the nuances of the Armenian language and regional dialects.
  • The way questions are asked or lyrics are phrased deeply informs the flow and mood of folk melodies.
  • Quote:
    • “The way certain dialects dictate rhythmic structure or a way of saying things...we might not know the lyric, but based on a melody, we might understand what region that song is coming from.” (13:16)

5. Demonstrating Armenian Folk Influence

• Martirosyan discusses how folk forms travel and transform based on region and dialect.
  • Example: Songs from the region of Van are recognizable by their rhythmic structure and melodic phrasing.
  • Songs mutate in meaning and sound as they move between regions; lyrics and context adapt with migration and history.
• Quote:
  • “You see more songs who come from more mountain regions where everyday life is kind of completely different, and they think about their own story, which is completely different, let’s say, than what the story would be from in Van.” (15:45)

6. The Role of Folk Song in Personal Healing—"Summer Night"

• Before moving to the US, Martirosyan rarely performed folk songs, though she was influenced by her mentor, Alina Pahlevanyan.
• The 2020 war (Nagorno-Karabakh conflict) prompted her to reconnect with Armenian folk music as a source of healing and personal connection.
  • “I was trying to find ways to reconnect, to heal, to express so many emotions, to feel more connected to Armenia. And folk songs were an amazing outlet for that.” (16:18)
• “Summer Night” is a song from her ancestral region of Van, depicting scenes of communal joy and nostalgia for peaceful village life.
• Live Performance:
  • “Summer Night” closes the content section of the episode (18:56–23:34).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On inspiration from poetry and war:
  • Martirosyan: “I many times thought peace had come when peace was far away.” (Emily Dickinson, quoted at 03:15)
• On the roots of her musicianship:
  • Martirosyan: “Music was kind of always in my life, and I studied piano since I was 5… But then it just became part of me, really.” (09:25)
• On the impact of language and region on folk music:
  • Martirosyan: “Oftentimes we might not hear… the lyric, but based on a melody, we might understand… what region that song is coming from.” (13:16)
• On folk song as emotional bridge:
  • Martirosyan: “During the war I was dreaming about that view.” (“Summer Night,” 17:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:59] – Show begins, artist introduction, context for the album
• [03:15] – Story behind “Silence” and influences
• [04:25]–[09:09] – Live in-studio performance: “Silence”
• [09:19]–[11:03] – Personal background, family, introduction to jazz
• [11:27]–[13:04] – Armenian musical notation and unique musical intervals
• [13:16]–[15:45] – Regional differences, language’s influence on Armenian folk
• [16:18] – Healing through Armenian folk, “Summer Night” backstory
• [18:56]–[23:34] – Live studio performance: “Summer Night”

Conclusion

This intimate musical conversation explores how personal and historical upheaval fuel artistic innovation. Astghik Martirosyan’s blending of jazz and Armenian folk, informed by linguistic and cultural traditions, is a moving bridge across distance—geographic, generational, and emotional. Her live performances in this episode offer listeners both artistry and insight into a world shaped by memory, longing, and resilience.