(This conversation took place in Armenian)
Main Piece
Lyrics (Original Script):
Գարուն ա ձուն ա արել,
Վայ լէ լէ, վայ լէ լէ, վայ լէ լէ, լէ լէ
Իմ եարն ինձնից ա սառել,
Ախ չորնա, վախ այ եար,
չար մարդու լեզուն
Վայ լէ լէ, վայ լէ լէ, վայ լէ լէ, լէ լէ
Phonetic Script
Garun a dzyun a arel
vay le le, vay le le, vay le le le le
Eem yar-n indznits a sarrel
Akh chorna, vakh ay yar
char martu lezun
vay le le, vay le le, vay le le le le
Transliteration
It is spring, it has snowed
Oh le le, Oh le le, Oh le le le le.
My sweetheart, from me, is frozen
Oh, dry up, my sweetheart,
the evil man’s tongue
Oh le le, Oh le le, Oh le le le le.
Lyrics (Translation):
It is springtime and yet it has snowed
Oh le le, Oh le le, Oh le le le le.
My sweetheart has turned cold
Oh, how I wish for the evil man’s tongue to dry
Oh le le, Oh le le, Oh le le le le.
Background
My informant explained that when she lived in Armenia, this song was a significant part of the day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, which took place on April 24, 1915. She explained that it is a song to be understood by the heart and felt by the soul. The song remembers not only those who lose their lives in the Genocide of 1915, but also the Armenian Massacre of 1894, which is what the song is originally referencing. When asked where she learned this song, she told me she could not remember, and does not remember a time when she didn’t know the song.
This song has no known author but was popularized by Father Komitas, who was an Armenian preacher and singer. This song is a very powerful aspect of Armenian culture about the Armenian Massacre of 1894, which occurred during the Spring. The lyrics emphasize the notion that during the Spring, a time that brings flourishment and growth, there was “snow.” This snow is metaphorical and represents the cold and bitter nature of the massacres during a time that is usually celebrated for bringing flowers and warm weather. Komitas’s rendition of this song became the canon.
Context
This song is sung by various members of the community on April 24 every year. This is a recurring tradition in Armenia, but can be performed by Diasporan Armenians in other countries.
My Thoughts
Being Armenian myself, I completely understood the emotions my informant was trying to communicate. The gravity of this song is not easily communicated to one who is not Armenian. I found it interesting that, in times of mourning, the people unite to sing a song. Music has always been a big part of my life, so I understand the unity that singing this song may bring to a people. As mentioned above, Garuna is a folk song that was popularized by Komitas. With that being said, it is difficult to find an interpretation or arrangement of this song that is not in some way a cover of Komitas’s interpretation. It is difficult to trace the original version of this song, and it is just as difficult to verify how close Komitas’s version is to the actual folk song.
I encourage you to listen to the song, sung by Komitas himself, to understand the feeling the song communicates. I have cited a link to a YouTube video below.
Video:
“Komitas – Garuna (Live Voice).” YouTube, 5 Dec. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8PK51TKepc.