Gusans

The Gusans (arm.- minstrels) were creative and performing artists - singers, instrumentalists, dancers, storytellers, and professional folk actors in public theaters of ancient and medieval Armenia.

In the early Middle Ages the word "gusan" was used as an equivalent to the classical Greek word "mimos" (mime). There were 2 groups of gousans:

1. the first were aristocratic feudal lord dynasties and performed as professional musicians.

2. the second group was comprised of popular, but illiterate gousans.

The gousans were sometimes criticized sometimes praised particularly in medieval Armenia. The adoption of Christianity had its influence upon Armenian minstrelsy, gradually altering its ethical and ideological orientation.

The center of gusans was Goghtn gavar- a region in the Vaspurakan province of Greater Armenia and bordered with province of Syunik.

References

* Grigor Suni, Armenian music, Yerevan, 2005, p. 98-99, ISBN-99930-60-59-3