Maria Kouskousi

(1898-1994) Maria Kouskousi was born in Reisdere, Erythraea, Asia Minor. After the Catastrophe of 1922 she settled in the village of Agios Dimitrios, Lemnos, where she died in 1994. Domna Samiou met her and recorded folk songs of the Erythraea Peninsula tradition, in 1973.

Songs

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  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, ReisdereFable Song (Ballad)

A Maid from Vrontados

(The Best-Woman Who Ended up a Bride)

  • Μια κόρη Βρονταδούσαινα ⬥ A maid from Vrontados sat weaving, her loom in full song to the shuttle’s beat when a bird flew down and perched on it. Its song was like no other bird’s, not like the swallow’s, for when it sang it sang in human voice. – Christ, [...]
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  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, ReisdereHoly Week’s Ritual Song, Ritual Song

The Lament of the Virgin (Reis-Dere)

(Holy Week Lament)

  • Το μοιρολόι της Παναγιάς (Pεΐς Ντερέ) ⬥ … – O holy John, forerunner and baptizer of my son, where is my much beloved son, your own beloved teacher? – My lips won’t frame the words for you, tongue-tied I cannot speak, nor could my heart contain itself, if what I [...]
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Records

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  • AlbumCD, Digital release1998Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Easter Songs

This significant edition aims to convey the spirit of Easter, the Christian feast celebrated amidst the glory and promise of springtime, through the selected rituals of that period of the year and their related sacred songs and tunes. (barcode: 5204910000524)
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  • AlbumCD, Digital release2008Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Folk Fables in Song

In fables, fragments of ancient myths are preserved. On this CD, Domna Samiou & her collaborators sing tales of the fabulous and the fantastic combining the real world with the supernatural and narrating stories, often tragic, which might once have occurred – or could do so one day – however […]
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