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Origins & Meanings Of Old Armenian Songs


Gor-Gor

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Okay, so lately I've been really interested in the origins and meanings of some of our joghovrtayin songs.

 

Two that have really caught my attention are "Yar Im Gorani" and "Yellek Yertank."

 

The first one, I'm sure everyone knows. I can't really figure out the lyrics, so I won't try topost them...but you know, the one that goes "Yar im gorani, yar im gorani, yar im gorani, vay vay, msho gorani..."

 

Well, I've been wondering which dialect this song was written in, and how old it is. Further, what is it about?? lol I'm thinking "Yar Im Gorani" is "My Lost Love." But then the rest, I simply can't make out. Perhaps the boy was a farmer "Msho" = "Mshagel" and also the lyrics say something about "tsoren e tsanel" ...or is "Msho" in reference to the city "Moosh"?

 

Anyway, the other song is perhaps slightly less popular. I heard it on a recent Armenian pop compilation from Armenia. It is sung by Aida Sargsyan. She has titled it "Yellek Yertank," but I'm not sure if this is the real title. Also, I think she may have fused more than one song. The chorus is the popular "Hye dodig, dodig, dodig..." and the rest I can't understand. lol

 

Here is a part of the lyrics. I want to know, again, the dialect it's written in. Clearly it's a WA dialect -- but can someone help me figure out which one? Is it Sasoon? And I think it's great that contemporary Armenian singers are singing in these old dialects. Here we go (in Western transliterations...)

 

Verse 1:

"Yellek yertank mur sareroon, dzaghguneroon desootyan

Momer varenk, soorp Marootoon muzi hasni oknootyan

Yellek yertank....[something..] hye dodig, dodig, dodig..."

 

[Okay, the "mur" is obviously "mer" but she sings "mur." Same with "muzi" (mezi). and "dzaghguhneroon" (dzaghigneroon), etc -- which dialect does this? Changes "e" and perhaps other sounds to "uh"?]

 

Verse 2:

"Yellank katsink menk Maratoo

ookhd oo bayman gabeloo

Momer varenk, menk irar hed

Jrakalouys Maratoo"

 

Then there's a part towards the end...

 

"Sasno dgha, shad khorod es,

Maratoon ______??

Ov vor g'ooze, ov vor chooze

Buhdi khaghank mayrokeh"

 

[Then the most fascinating part. The same verse is repeated, but with "g'ooze" changed to "g'oozi" and "chooze" to "choozi." What's more, in WA, the "correct" way to say "chooze" is "choozer." This is all so fascinating to me...The "Sasno dgha" part makes me think this is written in Sasoontsi dialect?]

 

"Ookhdavor em, ookhdatsi,

hye dodig, dodig, dodig..."

 

From what I can gather from the lyrics, the song is about a group of villagers making a yearly (?) pilgrimage to a church (St. Maratoo) in the local mountains. And they complain about their feet hurting, being tired. But in the end, they rejoice by repeating "ookhdavor em, ookhdatsi..."

 

I love it. :) This culture is so rich....

Edited by Gor-Gor
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Yar im Gorani - is from Mush - it's the song of the Gaghtakans (song of emigrant From West to East Armenia )

 

one of ths best singers i have ever listen is Flora Martirosyan -

Most of the time you sing gorani after Qele Law

Songs of the emigrants

 

"In Armenian popular culture, the emigrant's song is also called "Anduni", meaning one who, without choice, must leave his home. These songs tell the story of emigrants, who were forced to leave the country and search for good fortune and happiness, but their hearts are burning from a deep longing and grief, and the spiritual and psychological pressures of their life. Classic examples of this genre are "Kroonk", (The crane), and "Anduni" (Homeless)."

 

http://www.music.ch/face/catalog/karotvol_1songs.html

 

we need to se wat Arpa has to say - he is the Pro in ARmenia

 

PS> Welcoem to Hyeforum

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 7 months later...
Yar im Gorani  -  is  from Mush  - it's  the  song of the Gaghtakans  (song of emigrant From West to East Armenia )

 

one of ths best singers  i have ever listen is Flora Martirosyan -

Most  of  the time you sing gorani after Qele Law

Songs of the emigrants

 

"In Armenian popular culture, the emigrant's song is also called "Anduni", meaning one who, without choice, must leave his home. These songs tell the story of emigrants, who were forced to leave the country and search for good fortune and happiness, but their hearts are burning from a deep longing and grief, and the spiritual and psychological pressures of their life. Classic examples of this genre are "Kroonk", (The crane), and "Anduni" (Homeless)."

 

http://www.music.ch/face/catalog/karotvol_1songs.html

 

we need to se wat Arpa  has to say - he is the Pro  in ARmenia

 

PS>  Welcoem to Hyeforum

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Yea Flora is pretty good. I see her all the time cuz i go to her music school.

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Dear Gor-Gor... (lol)

 

Im happy to see someone with such an interest in the nature of Armenian folk music. It is truley amazing in it's variety of genres and styles, dialects aside. My personal favorite is the songs of Van, because I hear a musical charachteristic in them that seems to be exclusivley it's own and I don't seem to recognize it in any other regional song tradition. The uniqueness of the Van dialect, in general, is an object of fascination for me, take as an example (as MovsesJan mentioned) Kale Law, or Lao. It is absolutely great..

 

Nowabout Shirkhani, this is all I recall:

 

"Par pernenk Shirkhani,

Nanen kezee heyranee,

Par pernenk Shirkhani

(...)"

 

Par prnenk = parenk (let us dance, lit. let us grab; start, get going)

 

Shirkhani (which sounds very, actualy is composed of) Persian, translated (very poorly..) as Lion (Shir) Lord (Khan) ; Bravelord, is obviously the name of the dance.

 

Nane= nana, nan (familiar: mother)

 

kezi heyrani= heyran (Persian amazed, bewildered) used here synanimous to mernim kiz, showing partental affection; die for you; hence: amazed by you

 

So.. "Yegek polor parenk Shirvani, Mayrt kiz ghoorban (matagh)"

 

 

I love it.  This culture is so rich....

 

Could'nt have said it any more honestly meself..! :D

Edited by Zartonk
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