Lament on the Great Circassian Exodus: "Exodus" [«ИстамбылакIуэ»]

«ИстамбылакIуэ»

"Yistambilak'we"
[Kabardian]

Lament on the Great Circassian Exodus: "Exodus"

Sung by Zawir Tut (Tutov).

The baritone Zawir Tut (Tutov) (b. 1951), Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation and ex-Minister of Culture in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, has a rich repertoire, including opera, traditional (Circassian), Russian and international songs. His "Nart" repertoire includes the classic anthem "Bedinoqwe yi Pshinalhe" ("Bedinoqwe's Melody").

Laments and dirges (ghibze) were composed by Circassian bards in commemoration of the dead or catastrophic events. They were also a reflection of the national character of the people and their outlook on the world. The most memorable elegies are those composed during the Caucasian War and subsequent expulsion, such as the emotionally-charged "Yistambilak'we" — "Exodus".
«ИстамбылакIуэ»

Ой, си адэжь пщIантIэ гущэм,
Шыгур щызэщIащIэ.
Си гущIэм къыщIитхъыурэ
Хэкур сагъэбгынэ.
Ой! Истамбылым дашэ мыгъуэри, ой!

Ой, Истамбыл гъуэгу гущэри,
Ой, уи нашэкъашэщи!
Си къэшэну дахэри
Жылэм къыдэзнауэ.
Ой! Истамбылым дашэ мыгъуэри, ой!

Ой, си шыпхъу нэхъыщIэ гущэр,
Зэрыщхьэц барини,
Ди деж зэрыбынурэ
Сэ къыскIэрыщIауэ.
Ой! Истамбылым дашэ мыгъуэри, ой!

Адыгэжь бэракъ гущэри,
Уей, жьыбгъэм зэрехьэ,
Ди деж я хъыбархэри
Хэт дэ къытхуихьыну?
Ой, Истамбылым дашэ мыгъуэри, ой!

"Exodus"

In my forefathers' courtyard,
The horses are being tethered to the cart.
With a bleeding heart
I'm forced to desert the fatherland.
Oh, they are taking us to Istanbul!

Our path to Istanbul, our Via Dolorosa,
Oh, how thou twistest and turnest!
My fair fiancée
Was left back in the hamlet.
Woe unto us, for exile is our lot!

Oh, my sweet little sister,
With thy tousled hair,
The dear children
Are unable to break off with my embrace.
Alack, they are expelling us from our home!

Oh, Great Circassian Banner,
Ruffled by the wind,
The news from the fatherland
Who shall carry to us?
Alas, they are herding us to Istanbul!

Translated by Amjad Jaimoukha

Produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha

Jaimoukha, A., Circassian Culture and Folklore, London: Bennett and Bloom, 2101.

http://www.bennettandbloom.com/circassians.htm

Jaimoukha, A., The Art of the Circassian Minstrels, London: Desert Hearts, 2011. [CD collection]

http://www.deserthearts.com/circassianmusic.html

Видео Lament on the Great Circassian Exodus: "Exodus" [«ИстамбылакIуэ»] канала CircassianMinstrels