Samenvatting

This project explores the potential for incorporating South African jazz and Armenian folk music into compositional forms. As someone with both South African and Armenian heritage, I felt drawn to this creative process as a means of expressing my cultural identity, hence the inspiration for this research. By investigating the possibilities of combining elements from these two genres, this research aims to highlight the importance of embracing diversity and promoting cultural understanding within music.

A qualitative research design was employed in the analysis of elements of South African jazz and Armenian folk music which identified areas of overlap and potential blending of styles. Through this process, a portfolio of compositions was created that incorporates elements from both South African jazz and Armenian folk music. The findings suggest that it is possible to integrate components of these two genres, resulting in a unique and innovative sound that preserves the distinctive traits of each style.

Overall, this research demonstrates the possibilities of combining elements from South African jazz and Armenian folk music, and it promotes the existence of this music in other contexts. I hope that this work inspires other musicians and composers to engage in similar cross-cultural collaborations and musical exploration, and that it inspires a greater appreciation for diversity and cultural exchange in the music world.