Paghtasar Dpir - Lyric Poetry

Lyric Poetry

Paghtasar Dpir has made an appreciable contribution to the development of modern Armenian poetry. The themes and temperament of his works is, in general, traditional, yet he frequently infuses ideas of freedom and liberalism. He writes not only about love, as troubadours of his time, but also about social, religious and moral issues. The refinement of his language does not constrain his expressions, but allows him to be honest and passionate.

Researchers of Paghtasar Dpir’s works point to the uniqueness of the poem entitled “To Mamona” compared to songs written during that period. Here Paghtasar Dpir exposes the demon’s destructive influence of wealth and greed on man. He writes about Mamona from a popular moralistic point of view to repudiate its influence.

Another of Paghtasar Dpir’s famous songs is “Ee Nenjmanet Arkayakan Zartir” (From Your Royal Slumber Awaken, 1707), in which he infuses musical themes from modern troubadour and ancient liturgical music. Although it appears to be a love song, it could also be interpreted allegorically as a call to the Armenian nation to awaken from its stupor and to resist foreign rule.

Paghtasar Dpir’s musical creativity is clearly influenced by traditional troubadour, religious, as well as contemporary eastern and minstrel music. For his secular and especially for his love songs, he benefits extensively from Armenian national traditional and eastern melodies.

Among his most valuable and important contributions to Armenian lyrical heritage is a series called “Taghikner Siro Yev Karotanats” (Little Songs of Love and Yearning). His songbook entitled “Tagharan Pokrik Paghtasar Dpri” (Little Songbook of Paghtasar Dpir, 1723) was reprinted seven times with additions and revisions.

Paghtasar Dpir has also written Turkish language poems using Armenian letters.