Ένα καράβι κρητικό ⬥ - A Cretan ship, nor large nor small, just two and forty cubits long, brought me to strange and unknown lands. - O alien, exiled far from home, you walk in strange and unknown lands. - T’was here what I did take to wife a Frankish [...]
Πέρτικαν εμέρωνα ⬥ A partridge I did tame, through April ’til May came, the tamer she became, the more she did complain. All afire deep inside, I hurled her far and wide, at the mount all rocky, all rock-strewn and stony. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Ένας άγουρος κι ένας καλός στρατιώτης ⬥ A young and gallant soldier Sought a citadel, a citadel. He sought a citadel, a village to stop at. He found none, no citadel. He found neither citadel nor village to stop at; he found, he found a tree. He found a tree, [...]
Νέβα κατέβα Παναγιά ⬥ Local dance known as "siganos". Studio recording (2008). Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
Έλα Χριστέ και Παναγιά (1) ⬥ Studio recording (2008). Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
Ας είν' η ώρα η καλή ⬥ A traditional local dance performed during weddings and engagements, commonly known as ''klistos" (closed) or "nyfiatikos" (bridal). Based on Domna Samiou's 1976 field recording in Kymi, Euboea.
Σιμά σα ξημερώματα ⬥ Close to daybreak, dawn’s crack in the East, the Morning Star aloft, first light near at hand. The sun was a-telling: – Daughter you’re leaving home. The moon looks on and laughs, the leaves murmur, a breeze blows off the meadow, the fir trees shimmer. Translated [...]
Ελάτε όλα τα πουλιά ⬥ Come, all you birds, to make dough – help, O Virgin. Now gold has merged with pearl – help, O Virgin. I make a round loaf for the bridegroom, a round loaf for the groomsman – help, O Virgin. A chestnut woven basket for them [...]
Στολίσετε το νυφικό ⬥ In 1998, Zambeta Ventouri-Veniou from the island of Kimolos recorded the song and gave it to Domna Samiou, along with nine other songs from the region, for inclusion in her music archive.
Όμορφη που ’ν’ η νύφη μας ⬥ Our bride is beautiful and I've no need of words; her sweet cheeks are red as roses. I'm telling you, so hear my words, take joy and pride in them. Don’t pinch your pennies, groom, make a little cage, and put our bride [...]
Αφήνω γεια στη γειτονιά ⬥ Studio recording (2008). Based on Domna Samiou's 1972 field recording of the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yannis Tsirigotis, Yiorgos Tzitzos, Nikos Partheniotis and Yannis Migdis. It is sung in mainland Greece and the Peloponnese at the moment when the bride leaves her family [...]
Αφήνω γεια στη γειτονιά ⬥ Studio recording (1986). Based on Domna Samiou's 1972 field recording of the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yannis Tsirigotis, Yiorgos Tzitzos, Nikos Partheniotis and Yannis Migdis. It is sung in mainland Greece and the Peloponnese at the moment when the bride leaves her family [...]