Armenian revolutionary songs
Armenian Revolutionary Songs (Armenian: Հայ Յեղափոխական Երգեր, Hay Heghapokhagan Yerker) are songs that promote Armenian patriotism. The origins of these songs lay largely in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when Armenian political parties were established to struggle for the political and civil rights of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire.
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[edit] History
The Armenian revolutionary movement, initially led by the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (est. 1887) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (est. 1890), took place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.[1] This was caused by years of oppression from the Ottoman Empire, especially under the rule of sultan Abdul Hamid II. This was the period when Armenians began demanding their most basic rights and defending Armenian towns from Ottoman oppression. Certain armed Armenian patriotic groups formed to fight the Turkish oppression and defend Armenian towns from Kurdish brigands. These volunteer fighters were called fedayees. In some instances, they were successful in defending Armenian locals, earning them popular support and elevating them to the status of heroes. This environment was thus ideal for the development of Armenian patriotic songs to support these freedom fighters.[2]
[edit] Meaning
Some of the songs tell the stories of individual fedayees, such as Serob Pasha and General Andranik, who confronted the Turkish onslaught. They also talk about historical battles, successful guerrilla operations, heroic deaths, genocide, among other sensitive topics.[3]
The songs are generally heard at Armenian gatherings. It is also seen as a way to educate the newer generation of Armenians about their history through the songs.
Armenian revolutionary songs are very popular among the youth of the Armenian diaspora, and are generally in reference to the members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
[edit] Some Armenian revolutionary songs
Below is a list of several well-known Armenian songs (note that the English transcription of their Armenian names has been carried out in the Western Armenian dialect). Popular Armenian singers who currently sing these songs include Karnig Sarkissian, George Tutunjian, Nersik Ispiryan, Harout Pamboukjian, Berj Nakkashian, Samuel Vartanian, among others.
- Adanayi Godoradzuh
- Aksori Yerkuh
- Akhbers Ou Yes
- Antranigi Yerkuh
- Artyok Ovker En
- Aryunod Trosh
- Asbedagan Sev Sadanan
- Avedis
- Baderazm Ek Knoum
- Barzeer Aghpyur
- Bedros Seremdjiani Hishadagin
- Dgherk, Chan Dgherk
- Dour Tzerkt Unger
- Gharapaghi Azadootian Mardigner
- Govgasi Katcher
- Hajno Goyamarte
- Hayots Mardigner
- Hampereh, Hokees, Hampereh (Odaroutiun)
- Hye Fedayeek
- Hunchagian Enk Menk
- Garegin Nzhdehi Hishadagin
- Kedashen
- Kevork Chavoush
- Kini Lits[4]
- Leran Lanchin
- Lisbon 5 Dghots Yerkuh
- Menk Angeghdz Zinvor Enk
- Menk Bid Zohvink
- Mer Hayrenik
- Mshag Panvor
- Papken Suniyi Hishadagin (Bank Ottoman)[5]
- Serop Pashayi Yerkuh
- Mshetsi Mor Yerke
- Seropin Yev Soseyin Yerkuh
- Troyi Hishadagin
- Tsayn Muh Hnchets Erzerumi Hayots Lerneren[6]
- Vana Godoradze
- Vana Kaghak
- Yelek Hayer
- Yerk Sarkis Gougouniani
- Yergar Mdatzoum
- Zartir Lao
- Zeitountsiner
[edit] See also
- Armenian Genocide
- Armenian national awakening in the Ottoman Empire
- Timeline of Armenian national movement
- Hamidian Massacres
[edit] Notes
- ^ Hovanissian, Richard G. "The Armenian Question in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1914" in The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, Volume II: Foreign Dominion to Statehood: The Fifteenth Century to the Twentieth Century. Ed. Richard G. Hovannisian. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997, p. 212-213. ISBN 0-3121-0168-6.
- ^ Libaridian Gerard. Modern Armenia: People, Nation, State. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2004, pp. 81-82.
- ^ Peroomian, Rubina. Literary Responses to Catastrophe: A Comparison of the Armenian and the Jewish Experience. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1993, p. 72.
- ^ This song refers to the assassination of Talaat Pasha, one of the top men responsible for the Armenian Genocide, by Soghomon Tehlirian.
- ^ Hovanissian. "The Armenian Question in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1914" in The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times, p. 225.
- ^ Peroomian, Rubina. "A Call Sounded from the Armenian Mountains of Erzerum" in Armenian Karin/Erzerum. UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series: Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces, 4. Ed. Richard G. Hovannisian. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 2003, pp. 189-222.
[edit] Further reading
- Nalbandian, Louise. The Armenian Revolutionary Movement: The Development of Armenian Political Parties Through the Nineteenth Century. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1963.
