Habrban – Armenian Song feat. Ali Farbodnia

Duduk by Ali Farbodnia, vocals & arrangement by Farya Faraji, with additional vocals by Kelareh Kabiri.

This is an Armenian folk song that I decided to arrange in a mostly Western Armenian style to contrast it with my previous Armenian arrangement of a Sayat Nova song, whose music was made in the Caucasus, and therefore features more Eastern Armenian-like musical sounds such as the tar and kemenche. For this one, I wanted a more popular and less courtly sound, hence the usage of only a duduk, played expertly by Ali Farbodnia, and an oud, with dhol drums and a simple set of frame drums.

Lyrics in Armenian:
Արև ելավ փոխէ,
Լուսնակ ելավ փոխէ,
Կարմիր ելէ սև ջուխ է,
Հաբրբան, հաբրբան,

Հաբրբան է հաբրբան, ջանե ջան, ջան ղուրբան,
Հաբրբան է հաբրբան, ջանե ջան, ջան ղուրբան:

Աղջի քո անուն սար է,
Յար ջան քո անուն սար է,
Քո սերն ընձի կվառե,
Քո սերն ընձի կվառե, հաբրբան, հաբրբան,
Հաբրբան է հաբրբան, ջանե ջան, ջան ղուրբան:

Աղջի քո անուն Շուշան,
Յար ջան քո անուն Շուշան,
Արի երթանք սուրբ Նշան,
Ոսկե մատնիք քիզ նշան,
Հաբրբան, հաբրբան:

Հաբրբան է հաբրբան, ջանե ջան, ջան ղուրբան,
Հաբրբան է հաբրբան, ջանե ջան, ջան ղուրբան:

English translation:
The sun has risen,
The moon has risen
The light has shone, the darkness has dissipated
Habrban, Habrban,

Habrban, Habrban, jan e jan, jan ghurban*

Girl, you are ice,
Your love ignites and ignites me,
Habrban, Habrbnan,

Habrban, Habrban, jan e jan, jan ghurban

The girl, whose name is Shushan,
Yar jan*, whose name is Shushan,
Come with me to the holy temple,
This golden ring is a holy gift to you

Habrban, Habrban, jan e jan, jan ghurban

*The phrase "jan e jan, jan ghurban" is difficult to translate literally. These are idiomatic expressions that Armenians, Iranians and Turks, and probably others also use. Jan comes from the Persian word for life, and "jan e jan" translates roughly to "life of my life", while ghurban is an Arabic term, itself ultimately derived from Aramaic or Syriac, which mean a sacrifice, usually to God, therefore jan ghurban has mostly an idiomatic meaning of "may my life be sacrificed for you," although on a more literal level, these are really only interjections without a deep meaning.

Դուք կեցցես Աստված ձեզ օգնական

☪️☘️🌸🍀🇹🇷

As a Western Armenian, I commend and appreciate the research and consideration that goes into your arrangements to understand the regional context and subcultures, which is evident in this one being predominantly arranged in styles generally associated with Western Armenian cultures, especially since the song itself is Western Armenian. This makes it truly authentic and stays true to its origins. Thank you for the meticulous work and dedication.

Best regards and love,
An Armenian with a Cilician past 🙂

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I'm giving a listen to this song again after watching your video on orientalist music and now I'm happy to hear duduk when its presence is valid and accurate

Thank you! Especially for doing more Western Armenian style. Our music is endangered now sadly. The main representations are all Eastern Armenian

Ընկերներ ջան, օգնեք տարածել այս տեսանյութը սոցցանցերում։

درود به همه ی ارمنیان عزیز

Fayaaaa Kheyli Khobi dadash. Merci from Armenia

Bu melodiler bizim özümüz…Kurban olayım bu tınıya, hissettirdiklerine, hatırlattıklarına.