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Κανελόριζα
Down by the distance coast, down by the sandy shore
is the girl – is the girl I love.
The girl I love with hair so fair and eyes so dark,
she's but twelve – she's but twelve years old.
She's but twelve years old, the sun has never touched her;
only her mo- only her mother.
Only her mother calls her by the name Kanéla,
Kaneló – Kanelóriza.
Kanelóriza and flowers of kanéla,
blossom of – blossom of the apple tree.
Blossom of the apple tree, weighed down by scented apples.
I heard it said – I also heard it said,
I also heard it said, I'm off to gather apples,
but I found – I found no apples there.
I found no apples there, I felt but a great longing,
I fell ill – I fell profoundly ill.
I fell profoundly ill and was in gravest danger;
go fetch the doc… – go fetch the doctor here.
Go fetch the doctor here, to heal the gnawing pain
with which I have – with which I have been stricken,
With which I have been stricken by a lass from Crete,
a Cretan lass – a Cretan lass indeed.
A Cretan lass indeed and daughter of a priest,
a Cretan lass – a Cretan lass indeed.
Translated by John Leatham
Kanelóriza: In Greek kanéla = cinnamon and ríza – root, so Kanelóriza = Root of the cinnamon tree, here used endearingly by the mother addressing her daughter.
Kάτω στο γιαλό, κάτω στο περιγιάλι
κόρην α- κόρην αγαπώ.
Κόρην αγαπώ, ξανθή και μαυρομάτα
δώδεκα, δώδεκα χρονώ.
Δώδεκα χρονώ, π’ ο ήλιος δεν την είδε
παρά η μάνα της κανέλα τη φωνάζει
κανελόριζα και άνθη της κανέλας
φούντα της μηλιάς τα μήλα φορτωμένη
τ’ άκουσα κι εγώ, πάω να κόψω μήλα
μήλα δεν ηύρα, μόν’ τον καημό που πήρα
πέφτω σ’ αρρωστιά, σε κίνδυνο μεγάλο
[φέρτε το γιατρό τον πόνο μου να γιάνει
που με λάβωσε μια κόρη ΄που την Κρήτη
κόρη Κρητικιά, κόρη παπαδοπούλα.]
The song is known in a number of variations and from earlier recordings. It is sung in Asia Minor and in almost identical form in Thrace. It is heard also in Crete, but with different verses. It is the only song among those presented here which is performed in two rythms: the first part in 9/8, the second in 7/8. Domna Samiou (1995)
Studio recording, 1995.
Singers
Clarinet
Violin
Kanun
Constantinopolitan lute
Goblet drum
