Καλύμνικος πηδηχτός χορός (Σούστα) ⬥ Tune from Kalymnos. Recorded in 1961. Released on an extended play 45 rpm discs (Fidelity 8041, & 7777, 1961), supervised by Domna Samiou.
Καβοντορίτικο ⬥ The tune is a 2-beat rhythm from Euboea. Live recording from 1990 at the Panorama Cultural Society in Athens. Nikos Oikonomidis on violin.
Πυργούσικος ⬥ A local dance called pyrgousikos, traditionally performed by two men and a woman. Live recording from 1990 at the Panorama Cultural Society in Athens.
Χορός μαντιλιών ♦ This local dance, set in a 2/4 rhythm, is clearly of great antiquity. It is performed face-to-face in pairs – usually by women, and less commonly by mixed couples.
Ξημέρωσε η ανατολή ⬥ The sun rose in the East and day broke in the West, the young man led his black mount to water. All along the way, he called on God, – Lord, if I could only find the girl, Lord, if I could only find the girl [...]
Ο Διγενής ψυχομαχάει ⬥ Digenes, Digenes is giving up the ghost, my eyes, Digenes is dying, my eyes are black, Digenes is dying. All the lords on learning of it, all hasten by; with apples and with plums, with fresh grapes. To his fair one he speaks, to his fair one he [...]
Ντίλι ντίλι ⬥ Dili, dili, dili, dili the lamp shone as the maid embroidered her kerchief. The rat went and nicked the wick from the lamp that shone dili, dili, dili as the maid embroidered her kerchief. The cat went and ate the rat that nicked the wick from the lamp [...]
Ντιρλαντά ⬥ Studio recording, in 1966. Released in 45 rpm disc (Fidelity 7375, 1966) supervised by Domna Samiou. Song of sponge-fishermen of Kalymnos with impromptu satiric verses.
Κάτου στ’ς Μπαρμπαριάς τουν κάμπου ⬥ Down, moré, down on the Barbary plane, the fish are getting married down on the Barbary plane. The ants, moré, the ants are celebrating, the ants are celebrating, for the best man –me– they are a-waiting. But to spite them, I did not show, [...]
Πέρσι το καλοκαιράκι ⬥ Early last summer I set my sights on a little bird But chase as I would, lust as I might, She’d always take flight. She spread her wings, prepared to fly up to heaven, Fetch back an angel and empty the seven… Empty the seven seas [...]
Πασχαλιάτικες μαντινάδες ⬥ Because today is Easter Day, the world is making merry, all strangers, kith and kin, and friends embrace, kiss one another. If only every day were like this day that’s Easter Sunday, when girls dress in their finery, as pretty viola flowers. I greet you: ‘Christ is [...]
