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Πουλάκια μ’ της Ανατολής
My little birds of the East,
my nightingales from the West,
come and gather, draw in near, hear the plea I must confess:
when May returns, do not sing,
[let no Maytime echoes ring —
for heavy war will darken spring.]
Πουλάκια μ’ της Ανατολής κι αηδόνια μου της Δύσης
για συχναστείτε μια μεριά για να σας παραγγείλω,
το Μάη να μη λαλήσετε, [το Μάη να μην ’κουστείτε
για το βαρύ τον πόλεμο.]
Greek folk songs are divided into two main categories: horeftika (dance songs) and kathistika (sitting songs or table songs), which accompany social gatherings, weddings, or specific events such as carols, laments, or lullabies.
In both cases, the text may be historical, refer to a myth or tradition, tell a fairy tale, or be lyrical, romantic, or more broadly social in nature.
The kathistika songs are distinguished by their slow melody, which gives the singer the opportunity to show off a beautiful voice and their skill by ornamenting the song with many small melodic flourishes.
It is likely that the theme of the song Little birds of the East refers to the Fall of Constantinople to Mehmed II, the Conqueror, on May 29, 1453.
Based on Domna Samiou’s 1964 field recording of the song in Agia Eleni, Serres.
Singers
