Who Was the Matchmaker

Ποιός ήταν ο προξενητής

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Original Lyrics

Ποιος ήταν ο προξενητής

Ποιος ήταν ο προξενητής, π’ ανέβαινε τη σκάλα
ωχ, π’ ανέβαινε τη σκάλα
κι ταίριαξε τον αϊτό, ματζί με τη σουλτάνα
ωχ, ματζί με τη σουλτάνα.

Τσεσμελίδική μου γλάστρα
με τα λούλουδά σου τ’ άσπρα.

Η μάνα σου ήταν η αρχή που σ’ έφερε στο γάμο
και σ’ έδαν τα ματάκια μου και ζάφτι δεν τα κάνω.

Αλατσατιανέ μου αγέρα
που φυσάς νύχτα και μέρα.

Γαμπρέ μη λυπηθείς φλουριά και κάμ’ ένα κλουβάκι
και βάλε τη νυφούλα μας που ’ναι κοπελουδάκι.

Έλα, έλα σαν σου λέγω
μη με τυραννείς και κλαίγω.
Τσεσμελίδική μου γλάστρα
με τα λούλουδά σου τ’ άσπρα.

Region: Asia Minor
Area: Erythraea, Kato Panagia
Type: Couplets
Category: Wedding Song
Rhythm: 4 beats
Dance: Syrtos
Duration: 05:41

Recording information

Studio recording, 2008.

Credits

Domna Samiou

Singers

Nikos Oikonomidis

Violin

Panos Dimitrakopoulos

Kanun

Socrates Sinopoulos

Constantinopolitan lute

Kostas Papaprokopiou

Lute

Vangelis Karipis

Bendir (frame drum)

Discography

Wedding Songs

See also

  • SongAsia MinorLove SongCouplets

Like the Marble of the City (Constantinople)

  • Σαν τα μάρμαρα της Πόλης ⬥ Like the marble slabs that stand in St. Sophia so well-matched and symmetrical are your eyebrows, eyes and hair. I have decided to become a dome in St. Sophia for fair girls and for dark ones to come and worship there. Translated by Mania Seferiades
  • SongCappadocia / KonyaKonya, SilleInstrumental

Karsilamas Dance – Tsift

  • Αντικρυστός χορός – Τσιφτ ⬥ The tune is known also as 'tsift'. The kanun master Nikos Stefanidis taught this tune to Domna Samiou and her musicians. Recorded in 1991.
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, MeliLove SongCouplets

The Water of Life

(Olmaz)

  • Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια ⬥ The water of Life flows from your sweet eyes. I asked you for a little but you didn’t give me any to drink. Impossible, my duck, impossible, you are doing your best to kill me. I told you not to tempt me and leave [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Yatzilariani

  • Γιατζιλαριανή ⬥ I brought you a Good Evening, give me a Good Night I had no business here, I came only for you. Come out that I may see you and be comforted. Your eyes have burnt me, yet they are my joy and pride, if I don’t see them [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Yioryitsa

  • Γιωργίτσα ⬥ I intended to love you, my Yioryítsa, and nobody to know of it. Now our own people learn of it, my Yioryítsa, strangers too learned of it. Come, Yiúla, Yiúla, Yiúla, come, take me, open your tow arms, put me inside. The jasmine at your door has blossomed [...]