The Tagh ( hy, տաղ) is a genre of Armenian
monodic
In music, monody refers to a solo vocal style distinguished by having a single melodic line and instrumental accompaniment. Although such music is found in various cultures throughout history, the term is specifically applied to Italian song of ...
song writing. Its origin is ancient but its content and melodic line can be similar to modern vocal and instrumental compositions.
The characteristics of the tagh are its expansiveness of form and volume, its free melodic style, the existence of instrumental passages and richness of rhythm. The tagh is basically a lyric song but it is not canonic like the
sharakan. There are two types of taghs - religious and secular.
St.Narekatsi's taghs are the unsurpassed monuments of this musical style.
Further reading
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Komitas Vardapet
Soghomon Soghomonian, ordained and commonly known as Komitas, ( hy, Կոմիտաս; 22 October 1935) was an Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, who is considered the founder of the Armenian national scho ...
, ''Armenian Sacred and Folk Music'', Routledge (1997) {{ISBN, 0-7007-0637-2
Armenian music