Περάσαν οι Αποκριές ⬥ Why, Carnival is ended now, and Cheese-week’s past as well, and, gracious me, the Lenten fast, the Lenten fast’s with us. The Lenten fast’s upon us now, a fast of seven weeks. Come close to me, I will not come, for I am young and am [...]
Χριστούγεννα Πρωτούγεννα ♦ Watch the same carol performed by the Children's Choir of the mixed High School "Estia Neas Smyrnis", from a concert that took place in 1981 at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens.
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 [...]
Βαρέθηκα, μανούλα μου ⬥ Dear mother, I am awfully tired of gazing out to sea – to sea, of gazing out to sea – to sea; of asking the postman if I’ve got, if I’ve got a letter – a letter, and receiving no letter – no letter. Oh, how [...]
Ο Διγενής ψυχομαχάει ⬥ Digenis is dying and the mountains are trembling, and all the lords that heard it set out to visit him, they set out, bringing apples, plums and sweet grapes. And Digenis spoke and said to his beloved: - Lay out the carpets, my dearest, for the [...]
Κάτω στο γιαλό ⬥ Studio recording, 1980. Among the most popular songs from the islands. In Paros, is danced in the steps of “balos” and in Kea, as “syrtos” dance.
Πέντε μήνες γκιζερούσα ⬥ During five whole months I wandered in the rose garden, light of my two eyes, in the rose garden, searching for a comely woman I might make my wife, light of my two eyes, I might make my wife. There I found a girl asleeping down [...]
Πασχαλινό ♦ Transcription of the original 78 rpm recording of 1930 by Melpo Merlier, founder of the “Music Folklore Archive”. Easter dances in Fárassa went on for a week and continued, to a lesser extent, until Ascension Day. All the villagers participated, dancing in house-yards, terraces, squares, etc. The introductory [...]
Ας τον εκαλαντρίσομε ♦ Studio recording, 2011. Domna Samiou taped the carol in Karlovasi, Samos island, by Ilias Diatsidis and his daughters Kyranio Diatsidou and Keti Diatsidou, in 1969.
Η Βγενούλα ⬥ Young Evyenoula, comely lass, the lass who married early and boastfully was wont to say that Charon would not get her because her home stood proud and tall, her husband was so manly, because of brothers she had twelve and eighteen brothers-in-law. Now when old Charon heard [...]
Ο μισεμός είναι καημός ⬥ Exile is the greatest hardship, the parting so upsetting but oh, that greeting “Welcome home”, oh that Maroúli,1 is bliss. The diver's air-pump is my mother, the winding winch my sister and on my mate upon the deck2 my very life depends. For you, I [...]
Το Μαρούλι ⬥ Exile is the greatest hardship, the parting so upsetting but oh, that greeting “Welcome home”, oh that Maroúli,1 is bliss. The diver's air-pump is my mother, the winding winch my sister and on my mate upon the deck2 my very life depends. For you, I wear the diving-suit, and [...]
Η Ευγενούλα η μοσχονιά ⬥ Evgenoula, the fair maid beloved by all, went and boasted she had no fear of death, that she had houses tall and a sweetheart brave and strong and nine brothers to man the castle walls. And when Charon heard her words, they pleased him not [...]
Έχετε ψαράδες ψάρια ⬥ – Hey fishermen, have you any fish, any fish or squid or lobsters? – We’ve got sardines all golden, as golden as the maid is fair. – Mistress, I heard you have a boat and lay down nets, and have come to seek its use: for [...]
Εφτά βδομάδες έκανα ⬥ For a whole seven weeks, my love, I did not speak to you; because it was the time of Lent, I feared I’d make you sin. I can’t forget those eyes of yours, and all night long I cannot sleep. How gay it is at Easter [...]
