The Workshop
NVAGARAN is an Armenian musical instrument workshop focused on rebuilding and preserving traditional instrument craft disciplines. The frame drum (dap) is the first completed area of work, but the workshop’s scope extends to the study and reconstruction of other Armenian instruments as research, tooling, and documentation allow.
NVAGARAN maintains an archive of all completed instruments. Every piece is documented as a singular work and preserved for reference after it leaves the workshop. This growing archive serves as both a record of the workshop’s development and a broader reference for Armenian instrument craftsmanship as additional instruments are studied, rebuilt, and developed over time.
NVAGARAN began with a simple goal: to create a traditional Armenian frame drum for a local musician when none were available. That first instrument sparked a broader journey—one rooted in cultural preservation and refined through experimentation, research, and practical making. By combining traditional acoustics with contemporary tools and materials, NVAGARAN instruments honor the past through the precision of modern craftsmanship.
NVAGARAN (նվագարան) is the Armenian word for musical instrument. As roots nourish a living tree, traditional instruments sustain a living musical tradition. Each NVAGARAN instrument is fine-tuned to preserve the timbre, character, and function of its centuries-old counterparts—crafted not as replicas, but as living tools for sound and expression.
A way to reconnect with the voices of the past—through rhythm, resonance, and reverence.
What is NVAGARAN?
