Hars Em Knoom / A Bride’s Song
My mom used to sing this song before she was married as she was preparing to leave home to begin life with my dad in a new country: Canada. My grandmother used to sing this song as well, I am told. Married at seventeen, she began a new life with my grandfather in the land that they, along with countless other survivors had escaped to as children during the Armenian Genocide. Despite the obstacles both women faced as new brides in unfamiliar settings, each remained full of faith. And now, it is my turn to sing this song. Having recently been married, I draw on this legacy of faith as I take a new step in my life journey.
I am going to be married
I will be leaving my home
I am a 17 year old bride to be, my dear Mom
And I will be joining my beloved
You gave birth to me,
You loved me, cared for me
The sea has taken all you have sacrificed for me, my dear Mom
And has given it to my beloved
May your sweet milk which nourished me as a babe
Sustain me now
May your blessing, my dear Mom
Remain on me forever
Oh, my dear Mom
I am going to be married
I will be leaving my home
I am a 17 year old bride to be, my dear Mom
And I will be with my beloved
Oh, my dear Mom
Written by: Trad/Mariam Matossian/Adam Popowitz
Khntsori Zarin Dag / Under the Apple Tree
During a break at one of my Canadian folk festival performances last year, my family and I were sitting under an apple tree enjoying the music by the other artists. My aunt suddenly began singing this song, and my mom and my other aunt joined in. Together, they remembered the words to this song that they used to sing as children. I was fascinated by the spontaneous joy that erupted from their souls as they laughed and sang and reminisced. I eventually wrote two new verses and a new bridge section dedicated to my own beloved.
Under the apple tree
Under the apple tree
I fell in love with my beloved
Under the apple tree
My love,
You have brought me good news
You have come to me wearing red shoes
Hey, my handsome love
Hey, my beautiful one
Don’t hold back your love for me
Under the apple tree
Under the apple tree
I am longing for my precious love
What will I do without him
I fell in love with my beloved
Under the apple tree
I love my beloved
Oh, my love
I love my beloved
My sweet love has come home
And he has brought me good news
I fell in love with my beloved
Under the apple tree
Under the apple tree
Under the apple tree
I fell in love with my beloved
Under the apple tree
I love my beloved..
Written by: Trad./Mariam Matossian/Adam Popowitz
Patsvaz Vart / Blossoming Rose
Like most of the traditional folk songs that I sing, this song was one of my grandmother’s favourites. My grandmother loved to sing and she would teach her children all the timeless folk melodies. My mom, also passionate about music, is always singing. I am so thankful that she has passed down these precious songs and her love for our cultural heritage to me.
I am a blossoming rose with a sweet aroma
I have a beauty spot on my cheek
Oh my love, I have a beauty spot
My flowing hair
Is filled with shimmering golden beads
Oh my love, the beads are shimmering
You are a carnation that grows in the foothills
You are delightful and the only one for me
Oh my love, you are the only one, you are the only one
My love, my love
My love, you are the only one,
Oh my love, you are the only one
Young man, travelling through the mountains
You have come home
Oh my love, you are travelling through the mountains
I am a blossoming rose with a sweet aroma
And I cannot get to sleep at night
Oh my love, I cannot get to sleep at night, I cannot get to sleep at night
My love, my love
My love, my love I cannot get to sleep, I cannot get to sleep
Oh my love, I cannot get to sleep
Written by: Trad./Mariam Matossian
Narineh
This song is dedicated to my friend’s niece, a young Armenian girl whom I have called Narineh. This child has recently gone missing in Iraq. Her family is in agony as they attempt to cope with the unexplained loss of their loved one. Deeply moved by these events, I wrote this song as I imagined the mother calling out to her daughter, longing for her child to be found.
Narineh….
Where are you, Narineh
Where are you, Narineh
I long to hear your voice, Narineh
I long to hear your voice, Narineh
Oh, my soul…
On a spring day
You were born
Oh, my Narineh
Like a dream
You came to me
Oh, my Narineh
And I sang to you
Oh, my Narineh
Hopeful, I wait for you
Hopeful, I wait for you
I long to see you, Narineh
I long to see you, Narineh
Oh, my soul
Where are you, Narineh
Where are you, Narineh
Narineh, Narineh
Oh Lord, hear my voice,
Narineh…
Written by: Mariam Matossian
Yelar Sarov / Farewell, My Love
While recording this album, I was also planning my wedding and waiting in anticipation to be reunited with my beloved whom I hadn’t seen for months. And this folk song thoroughly captured some of the feelings I was experiencing at this time.
You climbed up the hills
You climbed up the hills, and now you are gone
You travelled through valleys, and now you are gone
You didn’t tell me you were from out of town, my love
Farewell, my love, farewell
I followed you, travelling through rocky hills
My heart longs for my beloved
I haven’t heard from you
So I have come to you, to be close to you
You are slender like a cypress tree
You are passionate; you light my heart on fire
Your heart is on fire, my love
You lit my heart on fire, my love
My precious one, my beautiful one
My life’s warm spring
Don’t be upset, don’t be angry
I will take you home with me
Close to you, Close to you
My beloved’s home is nearby
The pathway to his house is covered with roses
You are my beloved, my love
You are the guardian of my heart, my love
The guardian of my heart
Close to you, Close to you
Written by: Trad./Mariam Matossian
Nor Yerk / New Song
Oh Lord, my Lord,
Oh Lord, my Lord
You heard my voice,
You wiped away all my tears
One by one
You filled my hungry soul
With hope
And You put sweet, new songs
In my heart
Let me remain close to you
Written by: Mariam Matossian
Blbooli Hit / With the Larks
Sayat Nova (1712- 1795) is one of Armenia’s greatest folk songwriters with a vast collection of songs that can be attributed to his genius. I initially heard song during my first trip to Armenia. I was at a folk music concert where a young boy was singing this song with such passion. Enchanted by this love song and the musicians, I was reminded of my own grandfather who, as a young man, used to play the dumbek and sing in a band, along with his brother who played the mandolin and their friend who played the violin. My grandfather sang throughout his life and was my greatest fan when I was a little girl singing for him at the concerts I used to organize at our home.
You are crying with the larks
Like a rose, you are blossoming
Your tears are like rosewater
You are overflowing with tears
There is no one like you
There is no one like you
Like you, like you
You are one of a kind
Your face is like the sun and the moon
My love, I would give my soul for you
You have a golden belt
Around your waste
If I told you my pain
The mountains would cry
What have you done to me?
Why haven’t you given Sayat Nova any attention?
Written by: Sayat Nova
Nverus / My Gift
I wrote this song for my mother who is a woman of great faith, enthusiasm and strength. Even though I am physically far away from her now, we have grown even closer, and my love and respect for her has deepened. She teaches me, encourages me, guides me, comforts me, prays for me and loves me. When I was growing up, mom would patiently teach me the Armenian language through poetry, stories and songs. Her passion for our cultural heritage has fuelled my own desire to know more about Armenia. I praise God for her.
Oh my beautiful dear Mom
I love the sound of your sweet voice
Oh my beautiful dear Mom
You are precious to me
There is no one like you
You are gift from God
Oh my beautiful dear Mom
Written by: Mariam Matossian
Dle Yaman
Dle Yaman is one of the many songs attributed to Father Gomidas (1869 – 1935) who meticulously collected and transcribed old Armenian folk songs and in doing so preserved a precious part of Armenian history. This speaks of the pain of being separated from the homeland – Lake Van and Mount Massis (Ararat) were once a part of Armenia – and compares that to the pain of being separated from one’s beloved.
Dle Yaman,
The wind has come like a fire
Oh, Dle Yaman,
The wind has come, it is here
Like a flood
Yaman, Yaman, dear
Dle Yaman,
The sun has touched Lake Van
Oh, Dle Yaman,
Your love has flowed into my heart
Yaman, Yaman, dear
Dle Yaman,
The sun has touched Mount Massis
Oh Dle Yaman,
I am yearning for my love
Yaman, Yaman, dear
Yaman, Yaman, dear
Written by: Gomidas
Oosdi Gooka / My Foreign Bird
While arranging this folk song, we imagined a singer travelling through a number of villages. She meets many musicians on her journey, and one by one, each performer joins her lively ever-growing band. This reminds me of the many gifted musicians that I have met and worked with through my own travels. I have learned so much from each one.
Where do you come from, my foreign bird?
You shouldn’t be the one crying; it should be me
Search for your rose; I will look for my beloved
Please don’t cry, I should be the one crying
Come, dear bird, speak to me
Blessed is the mountain that you’ve come from
You were betrayed by the rose, and I by my beloved
Please don’t cry, I should be the one crying
I am roaming around with my guitar
Just like a foreign bird with an insect
You with your rose, and I with my beloved
Please don’t cry, I should be the one crying
I am still green like a cypress tree
Come, speak to me, I recognize your voice
You call for your rose; I will call for my beloved
Please don’t cry, I should be the one crying
You foreign bird, I know you
Let’s persevere through our similar trial
Sayat Nova said this is unbearable
Please don’t cry, I should be the one crying
Written by: Sayat Nova
Arev, Arev / Sunshine
I remember hearing Arev, Arev while I was growing up; my mom would sing it all the time, especially on cloudy days. I loved the message of this song so much that I wrote a countermelody with new words and a new last verse to extend this theme. This song is all the more meaningful to me now because my mom and sister joined me in the studio to record it.
Arise! Arise!
Oh, sun, arise and let us see you
Come out from behind the mountains
Oh, dark clouds, disappear
Let the sun shine
Let the sun shine down on us
We are yearning for its presence
Bright sun, shine for us
Come out from behind the mountains
Oh, dark clouds, disappear
Let the sun shine
It’s a new day! It’s a new day!
The sun has defeated the clouds
The sun rays are shimmering over all the mountains
Oh, bright sun, shine for us!
Come out from behind the mountains
Now we are in the light
We are dancing in the sunshine
Oh bright sun, shine for us!
Come out from behind the mountains
We are in the light
Arise, it’s a new day
We are in the light
Oh sun, beautiful sun
We are in the light….
Written by: Trad./Mariam Matossian
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