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Δεροπολίτισσα
Eh, Deropolis maiden, poor soul,
so envied you are,
when you walk to the church,
with tall candles, wax aglow,
and with fragrant incense.
Bow down for us too,
for us Christians;
so that the Turks don’t slit our throats,
like Easter lambs…
Μωρ' Δεροπολίτισσα, μωρ' καημένη,
ζη- μωρ' ζηλεμένη,
σίντα πας στην εκκλησιά,
με λαμπάδες με κεριά
και με μοσχοθυμιατά.
Για προσκύνα και για μας,
και για μας τους χριστιανούς.
Μη μας σφάξει η τουρκιά,
σαν τ' αρνιά την Πασχαλιά.
Greek folk songs are generally monophonic. The only exceptions are those from Northern Epirus, with their very distinctive polyphony. Three voices can be distinguished: the main melody, the drone (pedal), and the closma or spinning voice (this voice, performing ornamentations, moves up and down, giving the impression of weaving around the melody). Two other features of these songs are worth noting: very often this polyphony forms dissonant chords, and the melodies are always based on pentatonic scales.
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.
Choir
