An interesting lecture on "Armenian Ashugh Art", organized by the Regional Executive Board of Hamazkayin Lebanon, took place on Thursday 3 March 2016, at 7: 00 pm, at "Gevorg and Hermine Armenian" Hall of Hamazkayin "Levon Shant" Center. The lecturer was the artistic director of "Sayat Nova "Ensemble, Prof. Thovmas Poghosian.
Speaking about the Ashugh Art, Prof. Poghosian stated that it is the richest treasury of the Armenian culture, but unfortunately, the specialists have not studied it properly so far. Trying to explain the distinctions between the Ashugh, Gusan and Folk arts, the lecturer said that the first two are similar as song- writing arts. Gusan music and songs appeared in pagan era. Its 3000 years old song-repertoire includes epic songs from the Armenian mythology, such as "Birth of Vahagn". Gusan music and songs are written in free style. No rhyme or verse exists in them. While in Ashugh songs, the rhyme and verse always exist.