00:00
Λιγκέρι
Cling your ring, my dark-haired love,
upon the lingeraki,*
so all the free ones gather round, oh black-pepper sweet,
and you may find the one to hold you near.
Ah, Holy Mother, grant them as many years
as the branches of the lemon tree.
lingeraki: small ligkeri (baking tray/pan)
Χτύπα το δαχτυλίδι σου, αμάν, μελαχρινό μου,
πάνω στο λιγκεράκι*
να μαζευτούν τα λεύτερα, αμάν, καραπιπέρι,
να βρεις και συ ταιράκι.
Αχ, Παναγιά μου, δώσ’ τους χρόνια
σαν της λεμονιάς τα κλώνια.
*λιγκεράκι: μικρό λιγκέρι (ταψί)
The songs and dances of folk traditions all over the world bear witness to this: rhythm and percussion instruments are often everyday utensils and objects that impromptu musicians pick up at hand — spoons, glasses, plates, or various serving dishes.
Such is the case of this metal dish used for baking, the lingeri in the dialect of Kos. The singer places the dish upright on the floor and, with one hand, sets it spinning rapidly. With each turn, the rim of the dish strikes the ring —set with a large hard stone— worn on the musician’s middle finger.
Even today (at the time, 1970), on the island of Kos, the lingeri keeps the beat for Carnival songs.
Based on Domna Samiou’s 1966 field recording of the song in Athens.
Singers
