Komitas Vardapet

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Isabel Bayrakdarian is a renowned Lebanon-born Armenian-Canadian soprano featured here in her documentary A Long Journey Home with The Minassian Duduk Quartet, performing a song composed by 19th century Armenian composer and musicologist Komitas Vardapet:

"Dle Yaman (Lament)"

"Dle Yaman" was one of thousands of ancient Armenian folksongs collected and preserved by Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935). Though his life was spared through the intervention of several influential friends, Komitas lived to see everyone he loved die during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. He never recovered from the emotional shock, and later died in a psychiatric institute.

"Dle Yaman" lyric in Armenian:
(Isabel Bayrakdarian version)

LeLe Yaman, Mer tun, Dzer tun dimac, dimac
LeLe Yaman, Heriq anes achqov imac
Yaman Yaman Yar
LeLe Yaman, Heriq anes achoqov imac
Yaman Yaman Yar

LeLe Yaman, Arev dipav Masis sarin,
LeLe Yaman, Karot mnaci es im yarin,
Yaman Yaman Yar
LeLe Yaman, Karot mnaci es im yarin,
Yaman Yaman Yar

Alas, Alas, Our homes face each other,
Oh, Alas, Isn't it enough, That my eyes send you a sign?
Alas, Alas, O My love!

Oh, Alas, Isn't it enough, That my eyes send you a sign?
Alas, Alas, O My love!

Alas, Alas, the sun has touched Mount Ararat
Oh, Alas, Still I remain yearning for my love
Alas, Alas, O My love!

Oh, Alas, Still I remain yearning for my love
Alas, Alas, O My love!