A Circassian Abrek Song: "The Elegy of 'Eghwrbiy Jeteghezch"

A Circassian Abrek Song: "The Elegy of 'Eghwrbiy Jeteghezch" [«ДЖЭТЭГЪЭЖЬХЭ IЭГЪУРБИЙ И ГЪЫБЗЭ»; "Jeteghezchxe 'Eghwrbiy yi Ghibze"]

Sung by Vladimir Bereghwn (Baragunov).

Translated by Amjad Jaimoukha and produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha.

This is a well-known Kabardian lament. The words of the elegy were composed by the residents of the Kabardian village Yislhemey (currently part of Upper Kurp), the music by either the Kabardian Bile Wezir, or by the famous (female) Ossetian accordionist Kubata Tugan. The words (in Kabardian with Russian translation and comments) and music sheet of the dirge are found in V. H. Bereghwn and Z. P'. Qardenghwsch', Adige Weredxemre Pshinalhexemre, Yeschane Txilh. Narodnie pesni i instrumentalnie naigrishi adigov, tom 3 [Circassian Songs and Instrumental Folk-Tunes, Vol. 3, Part 2], Moscow: All-Union Book Publishing House "Soviet Composer", 1990, pp 114-20. There is another version of the elegy, also found in the same book.

According to the iconic Circassian bard Amirx'an Hex'wpasch'e (1882-1972), who had this song in his considerable repertoire, the hero of the song is the Ingush abrek 'Eghwrbiy Jeteghezch (Агурби [Егурби] Гетегежев), who lived in the second half of the 19th century. For a long time he managed to evade capture by the tsarist authorities, but in the end he fell into an ambush and was struck down by a bullet in the back.

Quiz time: Which classical work has its third movement based on this dirge?

«ДЖЭТЭГЪЭЖЬХЭ IЭГЪУРБИЙ И ГЪЫБЗЭ»

1.
Уойра, шэшэн шы гъуабжэр,
Уо сэрмахуэ, жэным хуэнахуэ,
Уой, зи лIыгъэри зымыгъэунэхуари,
Джэтэгъэжьхэ фи Iэгъурбийщ! Ежьу:
Уойра, уойра, уойра-а-а,
Уойра, уойра, уойра, уойра,
Джэтэгъэжьхэ фи Iэгъурбий!

2.
Уойра, уи Iэщэ-фащэхэр,
Уо сэрмахуэ, дыгъэм полыдри,
Уой, Iэгъурбиймэ и хьэдэ тIэкIур
Мы Псынащхьэм къыхолыдыкI.

3.
Уойра, уи къатыр цIыкIур,
Уо сэрмахуэ, лъэдакъэ лъагэт,
Уой, Джэтэгъэжьхэ фи унэ лъагэри,
Уэр, а махуэм къэлъэлъэжат!

4.
Уойра, Курпыжь и гъуэгур,
Уо сэрмахуэ, уи нашэкъашэт,
Уой, бдзапцIэшэ бзаджэри
Уэ уи гущхьэм къыхаупцIат!

5.
Уойра, цей морэ цIыкIури,
Уо сэрмахуэ, къыбдокIэрахъуэ,
Уой, Iэгъурбиймэ уи кIэрахъуэшхуэри
Мы фIэдзапIэм къыфIэнэжай!


"The Elegy of 'Eghwrbiy Jeteghezch"

1.
Woe, the dark grey Chechen steed,
Had proved to be of great speed,
But he whose heroism [he] did not to the fullest unfold,
Is 'Eghwrbiy of ye, blessed Jeteghezch household! Chorus:
Woyra, woyra, woyra-a-a,
Woyra, woyra, woyra, woyra,
'Eghwrbiy of ye, Jeteghezch family!

2.
Oh, thy fine accoutrements and armour,
Woe, lie under the sun in full splendour,
But, alas, the slight corpse of hapless 'Eghwrbiy
Lies in Psinaschhe, turning as ghastly as can be.

3.
Oh, thy high boots, choice and wee,
Did have high heels, woe unto me,
Oh, Jeteghezch household, your lofty mansion,
On that fateful day suffered mad destruction!

4.
Along the tortuous road to Old Kurp, thy native stretch,
Thy demise was devised and destined, oh poor wretch,
Alas, the nefarious and ruthless lead bullet
Thy brave heart did find and banefully hit!

5.
The little crimson cherkesska, much favoured by thee,
Alack, does indeed fit thy slender torso so splendidly,
But thy grand revolver, oh doomed 'Eghwrbiy,
Shall on this hook be left hanging, woe is me!

The full elegy is comprised of ten stanzas (as opposed to five in this version).

Psinaschhe is the name of a place near the town of Lower Kwrp in Little Kabarda (Jilax'steney).

Kurp here refers to a chain of hills on the border of Kabarda and Chechen-Ingushetia.

Cherkesska: Circassian coat, long-waisted outer garment.

Category:

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[CircassianMinstrels]

It is our pleasure, Vainakh friend!

[maykop73]

thank you for sharing it is beautifull

[DJIGIT06]

slm

thank you for this song and translation!!!