How Often Do I Sigh

I have left my possessions and vineyard, and I have come hither:

How often do I sigh, it seems that my soul is torn from me:

Crane, stay a little, thy voice is in my soul:

Crane, hast thou not news from our country?

An excerpt from "The Pilgrim to the Crane"

Trad. Armenian translated by Alishan, 1852

How can you maintain national pride and identity whilst away from your homeland? How can you feel equally a part of two differing countries and cultures yet not quite enough of either? How do you feel nostalgic about a place you never lived in, or a place that forced you to leave? How do you grieve for blood you never saw spilt, in wars fought years before your time?

How Often Do I Sigh is dedicated to all those away from a homeland, be it the result of economic, political or violent struggles, or simply for hope of something better.

Written for and performed by Eva Paturyan

How Often Do I Sigh is based on Krunk (Crane), an Armenian folk song. The electronics use a recording of Armenak Shahmuradian, recorded in Paris in 1909, singing Krunk.