Garden of Silihdar and Other Writings was written by early 1900’s Armenian feminist writer Zabel Yessayan of her childhood years in Constantinople. Portions of the book were translated into English by Kitchener Ontario writer/critic Ara Baliozian in 1982 and copies are now at a premium. He describes her book as “an autobiographical masterpiece.” Baliozian was educated at the Mekhitarists in Venice, and after his subsequent move to Canada from Greece many years ago, dedicated himself to writing and doing translations in French, Italian, and English. Over the years, his essays and critical viewpoints have appeared in many Armenian publications. Gardens is considered to be one of his finest translations. He most certainly performed a great service to those who do not read the Armenian language by revealing Zabel Yessayan to a vast audience, but more needs to be done.
Baliozian, now in his 70’s, unfortunately no longer does translations, nor does he care to take on the project of reproducing his book. His work Gardens of Silihdar should be reprinted and put into distribution by an individual or organization for all to see Yessayan’s senstive, creative writing. Generations of Armenians and non-Armenians alike will take great joy in her smooth and beautiful style.
Zabel Yessayan should be resurrected for many reasons. She documented first-hand the ravage felt by the community of Adana, where 30,000 Armenians were slaughtered in 1909. She was considered to be one of the finest, creative minds of her time. She should be given her rightful place in world literature.
Generations of Armenian youth should know about our female Armenian writers. They also need to know that Zabel Yessayan was the only woman included in the round-up in the group of intellectuals destined for slaughter on April 24, 1915. (She escaped that tragedy only to disappear without a trace during the Soviet era purges in the 1940’s.)
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There is a musical genius who has dedicated his life to composing and teaching. He is Dr. Vartan Aghababian, formerly of the metro Detroit area and now of Cambridge, Mass. This past June, he faced his concert audience from the stage at Pickman Hall at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge and declared, “Tonight you are going to hear Armenian music.”
The program included premiere performances of his compositions based on texts of Emily Dickinson and of Armenian Suite that Aghababian arranged as a musical offering for the wedding of friends. It included “Christos Ee Metch,” “Sourp Asdvadz,” “Yerkin Arantz Pareroon,” “Oorakh Ler,” and “Hayr Mer.” In the program, explanations were given as to the meanings of each piece.
His String Quartet No. 1, “Armenian” (a major work, he says, “that exalts, commemorates, and glorifies my Armenian heritage”) is based on Armenian melodies found in folk song, dance, hymns, and chants of the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church.
Out of respect and because of his family’s closeness to Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian of blessed memory, Aghababian included a brief biography of the cherished cleric’s life.
Aghababian is a member of the music theory and composition faculties at Boston University, the Longy School of Music, and the Winchester Community Music School. He also directs a chamber orchestra at the Longy School of Music.
Once in a while the magic formula reveals itself in those like Aghababian, and he makes everyone proud. He is a rare individual. His physician father Vahakn is Armenian and his nurse mother is not, but she embraces her husband’s culture with a passion. This passion has taken hold of her musical son and if you could read the concert program you would understand the accolades thrown his way. He is erudite, precise, exceedingly well-bred, and thoughtful. If I used the word “amazing” it would not be enough to describe his love of his family, and his respect for Armenian literature and music. Congratulations to his family.
Betty Apigian-Kessel
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Thank you for a very informative article about Zabel Yessayan and for drawing attention to our own Ara Baliozian, although acerbic in his humor, Mr. Baliozian has insisted on telling the truth about our national character. I wish him a long and productive life.
Mrs. Kessel: Thanks for bringing Mr. Ara Baliozian back into our thoughts. I personally have a great respect for him and liked his articles very much in the Armenian Weekly. I thought he was an exceptional thinker, observer, and commentator of the Armenian community in general. I hope he can be convinced to continue writing.
Dear Betty,
Again you’ve touched a sad part of our history by mentioning Zabel Yessayan and her literature.She has a unique place in Armenian literature as a novelist and in our recent history as a humanitarian and activist.No one can be compare with her.She left France and went to homeland with her kids and teaching French literature in University of Yerevan when had been arrested and put in a jail. After a while, they decided to send her to Siberia.On the Caspian Sea, she got sick in the ship and thrown into the sea alive. This was her sad destiny to choose homeland instead of living in France.After that her daughter went through a hell living the horrors of that time.I’ve read this article in an Armenian magazine and still keeping that.Thank you for remembering such a great writer, humanist and a unique woman.
There is also a full translation of Silihdari bardeznere into French entitled “Les jardins de Silihdar” published in 1994 and translated by Pierre Ter-Sarkissian. I translated some of her short stories and wrote my undergrad thesis on her early work. Truly an unforgettable literary figure.