This ailing, brilliant young man

Vaհe H Apelian

 

Courtesy Levon Sharoyan. 

Today Levon Sharoyan posted on his Facebook page an article he has written in Ararad Daily about Missak Medzarents on the occasion of the young poet’s 140th birthday (January 19, 1886 - July 5, 1908).

In his article Levon Sharoyan noted the following, I quote::

 “The exceptional study of Missak Medzarents by Siruni was recently published in Yerevan as a beautifully designed volume—serving as a halo upon the poet’s radiant brow—to mark the 140th anniversary of his birth. The work retains its original title, "This Ailing, Brilliant Young Man "—a phrase Charents used to characterize Medzarents.

The work was prepared for publication by two scholars from the Diaspora: Vartan Matiossian (New York) and Rev. Fr. Narek Deyirmenjian (Istanbul). They were assisted by literary scholar Arkmenik Nikoghosyan from Armenia. Through this newly published book, not only does Medzarents rise before us time and again—deepening the love and reverence we hold for him—but an opportunity also arises to "meet" once more H. J. Siruni, one of our distinguished historians of a bygone era. Siruni possessed the unique gift of weaving literary or memoir-based studies together with the events and memorable episodes of the times, narrating them in that enchanting and captivating Western Armenian style which—alas—has vanished from the public, from our contemporary press, and from modern books.

Medzarents and Siruni—two beloved figures who embody the spirit of Constantinople, allowing us to gaze upon the Bosphorus and the vibrant Armenian life that once pulsed along its shores, particularly within the literary realm radianting the somber and sorrowful life of Metsarents once again.» 

A few years ago I translated Missak Medzarents' famous poem  Sweet is the Night, which became a very popular song by composer Hrant Kevorkian, noting an anectode about the song and the composer of the song. The attached video was prepared by Garo Konyalian. 

 

Those interested to read that article may do so by pressing on the link below. 

Link: Missak Medzarents (Միսաք Մեծարենց): Sweet is the Night (Գիշերն Անուշ է) and its composer (Երգահանը) - https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/04/missak-medzarents-sweet-is-night-and.html