Circassian Circle Song: "The Dawn Wij" [«Нэхущ удж»]

"The Dawn Wij" [«Нэхущ удж»; "Nexwsch Wij"]

Composed by Zalimx'an Dischech' [ДыщэкI Залымхъан; Залимхан Дышеков] (words and music).

Two versions of the song, which is sung in the Kabardian dialect of Circassian, are presented. First by the Circassian baritone Zawir Tut [Тут Заур], then by the rising star X'wsein Shal [Шал Хъусен]. The melody is that of a "wij" dance.

Translated by Amjad Jaimoukha and produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha.

"Wij" («удж») is an ancient Circassian ritual (round) dance. It has many varieties, including "wij xesh" («удж хэш»), "wij pixw" («удж пыху»), and "wij x'wrey" («удж хъурей»). It is nowadays performed by couples, who go through the ancient ritual motions.

Zalimx'an Dischech' was a popular Soviet-era Circassian composer (music and words) of songs. He is best known for the song "Glory Road", celebrating 400 years of the fictitious "voluntary" joining of Kabarda to Russia in 1557 -- a figment of the imagination of Russian historians to legitimise Russia's occupation and continued colonisation of Kabarda. He composed many songs on the theme of the (Soviet) militia, such as "Militia March". He was duly awarded the Medal for Heroic Labour by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. His halcyon days were in the 1950s. His song "The Dawn Wij" ("Nexwsch Wij") has kept its popularity to this day.

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, Russian and international songs. His songs, the Nart anthem "Bedinoqwe yi Pshinalhe" ("Bedinoqwe's Melody"), the elegiac "Yistambilak'we" ("Exodus") and the classic "'Ediyixw", are also available on this channel.

«Нэхущ удж»

Нэхущ уджыр ирагъажьэ,
ЗэIэпэгъухэри йоуджэкI.
Уэ зым си нэр птедиями,
НэгъуэщI щIалэхэмкIэ усфIоплъэкI!

Дыздэуджу дыздытетым,
Собзэрабзэурэ узошэкI.
Си хъуэрыбзэхэм уемыдаIуэурэ,
НэгъуэщI щIалэхэмкIэ усфIоплъэкI!

Си гум къеуэу лъагъуныгъэм
СыщIэупщIэурэ сыпхуоплъэкI.
Жуапыншэу сыкъогъанэри,
НэгъуэщI щIалэхэмкIэ усфIоплъэкI!

Уэ упагэмэ, сыерыщкъэ,
Ерыщагъри къызобэкI.
Лъагъуныгъэм уезгъэщIынкъэ
НэгъуэщI щIалэхэмкIэ уемыплъэкI!

ФIыщэ Iейурэ услъэгъуащ!
"The Dawn Wij"

The dawn wij has begun,
The dancers are moving round [as couples].
I have eyes only for thee,
Yet, thou keepest glancing at other lads!

[In the dance square], as I lead thee round,
I woo thee with the utmost affection found.
But to my words of allegory thou givest no ear,
Casting thine amorous eyes on others, I fear!

About the unremitting love that is torturing me
I ask thee -- for my eyes except for thee cannot see.
But thou mortally hurtest me with thy slighting silence,
Thine attention beaming to others in full radiance!

I shall be most steadfast in face of thy sheer arrogance,
But what shall prevail in the end is my mere persistence.
So that my constant and true love shall win thee over,
And dissuade thee from glancing at others for ever!

I have fallen head over heels in love with thee!

Видео Circassian Circle Song: "The Dawn Wij" [«Нэхущ удж»] канала CircassianMinstrels