ARMENIAN “JUT” IS UNMATCHED

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Musician Manouk Haroutyunyan has always dreamed of a musical instrument that will be unique and unmatched on the universal level and won’t resemble any European violins and kamanchas. He has carried out researches on national musical instruments, made an instrument of five wires, maple and pear tree woods and called it jut.

The latter, in fact, is one of the most ancient Armenian instruments. Jut is larger than modern violin and smaller than cello. Interestingly, the modern Armenian name of violin sounds “jutak”, which may be interpreted as “small jut.”

Armenian “jut” has got the body of a slim woman, a gentle voice and it plays gracefully” Manouk Haroutyunyan shared his feelings with A1+.

In his words, he was namely inspired by the fact that jut proved to be created by the Armenians.

“Armenian “jut” is not the only instrument in master Manouk’s workshop. Alongside with delivering lectures in the state conservatoire, Mr. Haroutyunyan has been mending various musical instruments for 12 years and enlarging his collection. “I consider it interesting occupation to find and collect data on the history of various musical instruments”, tells the master.

He intends to open a museum of musical instruments; then Armenia will join the three countries having museums of unique musical instruments world-wide.

“There were moments when I was on the verge of giving up; I decided to sell my collection and buy a flat for my son, but later I changed my mind as the aim of my life is not the purchase of an apartment”, he says.

Manouk’s small workshop covers more than 200 clarinets, accordions and flutes each having 100-year-old history.

But the most significant for him is the collection of the old Armenian musical instruments as well as the instruments belonging to the Armenian renowned musicians.

“Once I found the door of my workshop unlocked; someone had broken into my little world and taken the food and trifles; the burglar understood nothing of real works of art”, tells the musician.

Manouk is often invited to parties to play his “jut” and he secretly hopes that one that his dream will come true.