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Τα παλαιά μου βάσανα
My old torments have been and gone.
Now new ones with snake’s fangs have come along.
Mantalenia, Mantalenia,*
spare me a thought as I walk by.
Your name is Mantalenia
and your kiss is sweet as pie.
If you cause me torment, little bird, and agony,
then go with the good, and God will provide for me.
Mantalenia, Mantalenia,
spare me a thought as I walk by.
Your name is Mantalenia,
and your kiss is sweet as pie.
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
*Mantalenia: a woman’s name
Τα παλαιά, ωχ, αγάπη μου, τα παλαιά μου βάσανα περάσανε και πάνε,
τα τωρινά, ωχ, αγάπη μου, τα τωρινά γενήκανε φίδια για να με φάνε.
Μανταλένια, Μανταλένια,
σαν περνάω, να μ’ έχεις έννοια.
Μανταλένια, τ’ όνομά σου,
και γλυκό το φίλημά σου.
Σαν είναι να ’χω βάσανα και πίκρες ’γώ για σένα,
σύρε, πουλί μου, στο καλό κι έχει ο Θεός για μένα.
Μανταλένια, Μανταλένια,
σαν περνάω, να μ’ έχεις έννοια.
Μανταλένια, τ’ όνομά σου,
και γλυκό το φίλημά σου.
A slow love song from Kato Panagia which was sung by men and women as they sat at the loom or their embroidery or any other task, so they might pass the time more pleasantly, but also at celebrations of every kind as a sung break from the dancing. The first couplet is philosophical in nature and sung to this day on many of the Aegean islands (Naxos, Samos, Paros, Tzia, etc.), albeit to different melodies.
This song from Erythraea describes the torments, sorrows and disappointments of a love which weighs heavy on and eats away at the lover, for Mantalenia no longer even thinks of him.
Theodor Kondaras (2022)
Live recording from the concert Songs of Asia Minor with Domna Samiou, held on 8 March 2005 at the Megaron — the Athens Concert Hall. Based on Domna Samiou’s 1980 field recording of the song in Kato Panagia, Peloponnese, sung by Garifallia Sorri and Kyriaki Gioulbaxioti.
Kyriaki Gioulbaxioti, Garyfallia Souri. Kato Panagia, Peloponnese, 1980
© Domna Samiou Archive
Singers
Clarinet
Violin
Bowed tambouras
Constantinopolitan lute
Bendir (frame drum)
Bendir (frame drum)
Informant (source of the song)
Informant (source of the song)
