Όλες οι καπετάνισσες ⬥ All the captains’ women went and bowed down before Ali Pasha, before the vezir, but Leni, Botsaris’ Leni, will not bow her head. – I will not bow down, Ali Pasha, not before you, vezir, I am Leni, I am Botsaris’ wife. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou [...]
Στη βρύση στα Τσερίτσιανα ⬥ At the well of Tseritsiana, in the heart of the land, hail fine fellows, there were Bulubasiades watching. There were Bulubasiades and there were Margaritiotes. And they watched the Souliots waging war; [how children fought, and women like their menfolk;] how Tzavelas’ wife fought like [...]
Μπεράτι Μετσόβου ⬥ Instrumental tune danced at weddings when the relatives accompanied the bride and the groom to the church. Napoleon Saadedin on clarinet (1983).
Καλότυχα είναι τα βουνά ⬥ Studio recording (1983), in Paris, France. Polyphonic a capella song. A short but profound meditation on the inexorability of death. We notice the exclamations which punctuate each phrase sung by the ‘embroiderer’; do they not perhaps play the same role as the cries of distress [...]
Δεροπολίτισσα ♦ Deropolitissa, meaning “woman of Deropolis” (Northern Epirus), is a historical song. It refers to the period of Ottoman occupation, when the Greeks of Epirus were forcibly compelled to adopt the Muslim religion.
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).
Αλησμονώ και χαίρομαι ⬥ A representative example of the unique Greek polyphonic songs from Epirus. Polyphonic Group K. Mpatsidis & Ch. Papadopoulos (1961).
Τα τέσσερα, τα πέντε, τα εννιάδερφα ⬥ Four brothers, five brothers, nine, eighteen cousins, none destined to grow to man’s estate, were by royal command to go and fight twelve long years in the wars. When they whet their swords, the sea glistens; when their staffs clash, the mountains tremble. [...]
Ο Γιάννος και η Βαγγελιώ ⬥ Giannos and Vangelio went to the same school, Giannos to learn to read and write, Vangelio to sing. Giannos fell in love and would take her for his wife. – Mother, I have something, something I must share. I love Vangelio and would take [...]
Πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι ⬥ How do they grind, good shepherdess, how do they grind the pepper, how do they grind the pepper, those diabolic monks? With the knee, good shepherdess, they grind it with the knee, with the knee they grind it, and they grind it fine. Ho there! Arise, intrepid lads, [...]
Βασιλικός θα γίνω ⬥ I’ll be the basil by your window, I’ll stay unwed for your sake. Come, come to me, and I’ll fill you with glee. Come to the window, not a word to your mum, mid pretend to water your marjoram. By the end of July, with you [...]
Γιάννη μου το μαντίλι σου ⬥ Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty? Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fellow. T'was soiled while I was far from home, in distant lonely places. Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fellow. Five [...]
Κατσαντώνης ⬥ Hail, high mountains, and you, low hills, hail, dear Katsantonis; and you, low-lying hills, my captain, hail. And you Tzoumerka and Agrafa, brave warriors’ lairs. Ne’er say they captured me, for ’twas by treachery and guile they found me, laid out sick and unarmed upon my bed. Translated [...]
