Κοράσιν ετραγούδαγε ⬥ A maid was singing in a high-walled palace. The wind swept her voice out to sea and every ship that heard it reefed its sails. Save one love-lorn ship that knows what friendship means that neither gathering its sheets nor lowering them trimmed its sails and set [...]
Κοράσιν ετραγούδαγε ⬥ A maid was singing longingly inside a high-walled palace, her voice was caught up on the breeze and carried off to seaward, and all the ships that heard that voice at once let go their halyards. [Save one that holds friendship most dear and knows a love-lorn [...]
Δεν είν’ αυγή να σηκωθώ ⬥ At dawn, not once did I get up without sighing: Arise, my sun, come, talk to me. Without bending again on the pillow and crying: Arise, that I may see you and be comforted. At Alatsata, there is a mountain called the Karadai. Come, [...]
Αφήνω γεια στις έμορφες ⬥ Studio recording (1968). Released in 1968, on the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968), supervised by Domna Samiou. In 2008, Yiorgos Tsambras included the track in the CD collection Mousiko Odiporiko 1959-1969 (Universal Music, 2008).
Κείνο τ’ αστέρι το λαμπρό ⬥ An interesting example of an instrumental table song in free rhythm, performed by Aristides Vassilaris (flute), recorded in 1974.
Συμπάθησέ με γειτονιά ⬥ Studio recording (1968). Released the same year on the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968), supervised by Domna Samiou.
Σαράντα παλληκάρια ⬥ Forty brave lads and an old man took up arms and dressed for war. Slinging their muskets, the mountains light up, buckling on their swords, oceans shine. They set off on their way, along the coast to their mother, her blessing to receive: – May Fate smile [...]
Εσείς βουνά, ψηλά βουνά ⬥The gaida is a three-tube bagpipe, not very different from the Scottish or Italian varieties. The first tube (the chanter or fingering pipe) has seven holes in the front and one at the back for the thumb. The second tube is used by the player to [...]
Θρήνος μεγάλος έγινε ⬥ Great sorrow was expressed in Mesolonghi town; for they are taking Markos to the church, my lads. They’re taking Markos to the church for burial; sixty priests walk on ahead. A wind disturbs the branches of the broad-leaved trees. Good Lord, preserve from harm Greek children [...]
Βλέπω καράβια πο ’ρχοντι ⬥ I see ships a-coming from Constantine’s City, with four hundred maids and sixty brave lads, and mine in there amidst them, singing of love, singing of our love. ["I curse the day I came here to these folk, who, lying, said a girl they saw [...]
Ξένος ήμαν κι ήρθα τώρα ⬥ "I was far away, but now I'm back from foreign lands, with diamonds and fresh-struck gold and silver coins for you". "What use is gold to me, what good is silver, when my heart is locked tight shut two and forty times? Money won't [...]
Με γέλασαν μια χαραυγή ⬥ Studio recording, 1968. Released in 1968, in the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968) supervised by Domna Samiou.
Να ’μαν πουλί να πέταγα ⬥ I would I were a bird to fly high up above the hill-tops, and so survey what lies below, in distant, foreign countries that I might see my well-beloved — where is she seated, and whose soft hands bid her gently welcome. Translated by [...]
Να ’μαν πουλί να πέταγα ⬥ I would I were a bird to fly high up above the hill-tops, and so survey what lies below, in distant, foreign countries that I might see my well-beloved — might see the man I’ll marry, the kind of lodgings where he stays... Translated [...]
Στην Πόλη ήμουν κι έμαθα ⬥ I was in the City and heard my fairest was to wed, that she had exchanged vows with another. Mounting my horse, I set off home. And half way there, at the dragon’s well, I came upon a weeping maid clad all in black. [...]
Στη μέση στα Καλάβρυτα ⬥ In the heart of Kalavryta, beneath the great plane tree, old Zaimis sat, three old men a-sitting. There were three old men there, three elders. Zaimis and Petimezas and old man Haralambis, ’twas a council and Patras they would burn. "Make your mark, Zaimis, sign..." [...]
Του Κίτσου η μάνα ⬥ Kitsos’ mother sat on the river bank scolding the river. Scolding the river and pelting it with stones. "River, flow less, river, turn back, so I can cross you, cross to the klepht villages, where the klephts are meeting, every captain there". They’ve caught Kitsos, [...]
Ο Κωνσταντής ⬥ Instrumental variation of the akritic song “Kostantis the Only Son”, recorded in 1974. Nikos Stefanidis on the kanun and Aristides Vassilaris on the flute.