JAZZ PASSED THROUGH HAKARI:
TIGRAN SUCHYAN SAVED MUSIC FROM THE SHELLING
On September 25, 2023, five days after Azerbaijan’s two-day attack, amidst the flow of heavy and conflicting information coming from Stepanakert, Tigran Suchyan’s Facebook post appeared. The musician was asking for help to save the instruments of the Artsakh Jazz Band.
“Dear friends and kind people living in Artsakh, we are unable to transport some of the instruments of the Artsakh State Jazz Band to Yerevan. As the band leader, I am determined to continue our work here; these instruments are precious and very important to us. I know you have many other concerns and things to transport, but if anyone can help take a musical instrument across the border, I will meet you and be GRATEFUL. Wishing you all a safe journey.”
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Trumpeter Tigran Suchyan had no practical ties with Artsakh before the 2020 44-day war. During the war, 30-40 children from Artsakh’s music schools were relocated to Armenia. Tigran and his musician friends started working with the children, forming a group called “Artsakhikner” (Little Artsakhs). After the ceasefire on November 9, 2020, the children returned home.
His efforts did not go unnoticed. In 2021, during one of his visits, Tigran was offered to lead another music group, the Artsakh Jazz Band.
Tigran says he felt responsible as a leader to keep the band together even after the displacement. And for that, they needed the instruments. He was amazed at how quickly the musicians organized themselves under such circumstances.
- It’s a real pity I did not dare write sooner. I thought others would say–people need to bring essential items. What musical instruments?
The transportation logistics were organized via phone calls between Yerevan and Stepanakert. Tigran found a car and a driver from Yerevan, while the musicians from Artsakh covered a few kilometers on foot, carrying heavy instruments, to reach the car. Tigran still doesn’t understand how, for example, 17-year-olds Vagha and Aren found the mental and the physical strength to carry the heavy synthesizer from one end of the city to the other.
Read the transcription: Tigran Suchyan recounts
I was always in touch with the guys, especially the young guys, who were both organizing and physically doing the work. We were constantly in touch, and the most important thing was their health, that their lives weren’t in danger. The instruments aside; but there is always that professional concern, you know? Do you have your instrument? Did you bring it? Did you manage to transport it?… That has always been there.
In the heavy traffic, along with taking essential items and loads of other things needed to be transported, the Artsakh Jazz Band managed to reach Yerevan with their instruments. Moreover, the musicians found the strength to take these instruments and play immediately after getting there.
Tigran notes: it was a crucial moment. Everyone around him was saying, “how do you even have the heart to play music? Well, we didn’t.”
- Music has such an interesting, magical quality in itself. No matter how bad you feel, it lifts you out of that state…
Authours: Arusyak Kapukchyan, Milena Hovhannisyan
