Daredevils of Sasun, also known as Sasna crer, is an Armenian epic poem composed of four cycles (parts), with David of Sassoun as its premier story, which is one of the four parts.
It is in the tradition of heroic folktales that dramatize the story of a whole nation and voice its deepest sentiments and aspirations, to recount the legends of four generations of strongmen in a warrior community in the Armenian Highlands.
Following the discovery of the epic in the late nineteenth century, there emerged an overwhelming consensus attributing its theme to Sassoun's four generations of warriors' struggle against Muslim rule in the 8th to 10th centuries.
The Armenian epic, Daredevils of Sassoun, tells the heroic folktale of David of Sassoun, a young man who defied and became self-reliant, defending his homeland in an unequal duel against evil. The epic falls within the tradition of folk tales that dramatize and express the deepest sentiments and aspirations of a nation.
Among the most important Armenian folklore texts, the Daredevils of Sassoun has often been cited. Although the language is filled with poetic pictures, the sensory details are often missing. This is because an oral tale is necessarily different than that of a written story because actors get on with their actions and act out most of the story to keep the audience interested. The plot is the primary thing, and the actors are suited to suit the words. The language is beautifully controlled and hyperbole is a characteristic device of this poetic style.
The story in a lyrical voice with rhythmic enunciation is told in separate canto. The epic is performed annually on the first Saturday of October, in celebration of the Epic Day holiday, as well as at weddings, birthdays, christenings, and other major national cultural events.
The epic tellers perform from a seated position, wearing the traditional costume and accompanied by the duduk, a woodwind instrument. They carry the family tradition as a vocation, and it is carried on most strongly in rural areas with ties to folklore culture. There are 160 variants to the epic.
Nowadays, the epic is narrated in parts during performances, lasting up to two hours. It is most often considered one of the most important works of Armenian folklore, as well as an encyclopedia, containing all the knowledge about the culture and heritage of Armenian people, including their religion, mythology, philosophy, cosmology, customs, and ethics.
References
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daredevils_of_Sassoun) (https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/performance-of-the-armenian-epic-of-daredevils-of-sassoun-or-david-of-sassoun-00743)