'Khrovats Er': The beauty of angst and despair

When all-female musical band, Decibelle, teamed up with Los Angeles-based folk fusion sensation, Element Band, at TUMO Center for Creative Technologies in Yerevan, the result was a mellifluous, genre-bending love song for the ages. The tune they chose, “Khrovats Er”, depicts the angst and despair of a heartbroken man, whose story is told through a first-person perspective by the composer, Gusan Shahen. This poetic form of songwriting was popular among gusans, or Armenian troubadours. 

Born Shahen Yeghiazaryan Sargsyan, Gusan Shahen was a prolific composer and musician from the Shirak region of Armenia, whose folk rhythms and traditions influenced his craft. He was among a cadre of famous gusans who entertained and enriched the musical repertoire of 20th century Armenia. “Khrovats Er” remains one of his most beloved tunes today.

This version is replete with soothing vocals, sweet accordion vibrations, folkish oud strums, and a high-tech production worthy of any major recording artist. Watch and listen as these talented youngsters recreate a beloved gusan classic for the 21st century. The cover was also included in Element Band’s 2018 album, É. 

Also, be sure to check out our translation of this beautiful ballad below! 

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One of Armenia’s most beloved performers of the black and white cinematic era, Lusik Qoshyan, helped popularize this song for generations to come.

Armenian 

Խռոված էր

Այսօր, ես՝ իմ եարին տեսայ, թուխ մազերը ոլորած էր,
Բարեւ տուի, բարեւ չառայ, գուցէ ինձնից խռովա՞ծ էր,
Նայի դէմքին՝ կարմիր խնձոր, լուսնի նման բոլորած էր,
Սիրտը՝ ելած, աչքերը՝ թաց, անձրեւի պէս վարարած էր,
Կայծակ դարած, խփեց անցաւ, որոտի պէս վրդովուած էր:

Ասի՝ էդպէս սիրտդ տխուր, ու՞ր ես գնում, բոյիդ մեռնեմ,
Կա՛նգ առ, սիրտդ թեթեւանայ, զուր ես գնում, սոյիդ մեռնեմ,
Ականջ արա, բան եմ ասում, լուռ ես գնում, նանիդ մեռնեմ,
Չէ՞ որ, դու՝ իմ, ազիզ եարն ես, ու՞ր ես գնում, ջանիդ մեռնեմ,
Արի նստենք, զրոյց անենք, սիրտդ ինչու՞ պղտորուած է:

Ա՜խ իմ եարը, անցաւ գնաց, աղաչեցի՝ ետ չդարձաւ,
Ուր որ գնաց, հետեւեցի, մինչեւ Լուսոյ աստղը ելաւ,
Գնաց-գնաց ու ման եկաւ, սիրտս էլ հանեց հետը տարաւ,
Ասաւ. - «Գուսան, էդ քո սիրտը, սրտիս դեղ ու դարման չարաւ»,
Նոր հասկացայ, որ իմ եարը իմ արուեստից խռոված էր:

English translation (by h-pem)

She was upset
 
I saw my beloved today—her hair was curled, 
“Hello,” I called, with no reply. Could she be upset with me?
Look at her face—a red apple, full like the moon,
Her heart out, eyes wet, like pouring rain,
She struck me like lightning and left—outraged like the thunder. 

I asked, “With sorrow in your heart, where do you go? May I die for your charm,
Stop, let your heart soften, you go in vain. May I die for your tribe,
Heed my words, I am speaking as you go silently. May I die for your mother,
You’re my sweet love, aren’t you? Where do you go? May I die for your heart,
Come, sit with me and tell me—why is your heart troubled?”

Oh, I begged, but my love left and did not turn back,
Wherever she went, I followed, until the star of light arose,
She wandered then plucked my heart out and took it with her,
“Gusan,” she cried, “your heart was no remedy to mine,” 
Now I know that my beloved was upset—upset with my art…