Babo-Vagia Grammenidou

(1903-1987). Babo-Vagia (old woman Vagia) Grammenidou came from the village of Karoti in Didymoteicho. Domna Samiou met her in 1976, and babo-Vagia gave her information on the local customs. She sang the songs Saint John, One Easter day one Sunday, Alexander and the king.

In the TV program Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros (ΕΡΤ – 1977), babo-Vagia sang the song Alexander and the king.

Songs

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children
  • SongThraceEvros, KarotiHistorical Song, National Legends and Laments

Alexander and the King

  • Αλέξαντρος κι βασιλιάς ⬥ Alexander, bre aman aman, Alexander and the king, Alexander brave and strong and little Constantine. They ate together, bre aman aman, they ate and drank together, Alexander brave and strong, and feasted and revelled together. And as they ate and as they drank and as they revelled they [...]
Folk Fables in Song
  • SongThraceEvros, KarotiFable Song (Ballad)

One Easter Day, One Sunday

(The Sinner)

  • Μια Πασχαλιά, μια Κυριακή ⬥ Fable song (ballad) from Karoti, Evros, with Babo-Vagia Grammenidou. Field recording (1976).
Of Nature and of Love
  • SongThraceEvros, KarotiFor Saint John of Kledon, Ritual Song

Saint John

  • Αγιόγιαννης ⬥ Song for Saint John of Kledon from Thrace with Vangelis Dimoudis. Recorded in 2005.
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Records

Folk Fables in Song
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2008Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Folk Fables in Song

Tales of the fabulous and the fantastic combining the real world with the supernatural. Narrating stories, often tragic, which might once have occurred – or could do so one day.
Of Nature and of Love
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2006Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Of Nature and of Love

The down-to-earth love of nature in these folk songs doesn’t derive from any form of romantic nostalgia; it lies instead in a pure experience of everyday life.
The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2007Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children

This CD is a good companion to those who want to offer their children a hint of a different magical world.
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References

  • The "Musical Travelogue"

Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros

  • An episode dedicated to the musical tradition of Thrace and specifically that of the Evros district. An ancient legend has it that Orpheus taught music throughout Thrace and finally found a tragic death in the river Evros. As the crossroad to the East, Thrace received many influences, but still maintains [...]