background information about the selected traditional songs
FOLK SONGS
When it comes to folk songs the creator is unknown.
They were communicated by word of mouth and saved through tradition until
today. They were sung from generation to generation with alterations and
additions to the main melody. The final result was a co-creation of the whole society through
time. According to their content they are divided into lullabies, songs
dedicated to emigration, carols & carnival/satirical ones.
Folk songs are characterized by simplifications, plainness, grace, lyricism, idiomatic expressions, repetitions and poetic fertile imagination. In folk songs rhyme is rare. The language is very vivid and descriptive. A usual phenomenon that appears in such songs is the use of personification where objects are presented like human beings.
Folk songs are characterized by simplifications, plainness, grace, lyricism, idiomatic expressions, repetitions and poetic fertile imagination. In folk songs rhyme is rare. The language is very vivid and descriptive. A usual phenomenon that appears in such songs is the use of personification where objects are presented like human beings.
1ST SONG
"YIANNI MOU TO MANTILI SOU", " MY DEAR JOHN, YOUR HANDKERCHIEF" FROM EPIRUS
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
Songs dedicated to emigration
Emigration is a central phenomenon in the life of the Greeks, because lots of Greek people were obliged to emigrate since the old times due to economic reasons. The difficulty of travelling (ships, caravans, etc.) made the return of the emigrant so impossible that his relatives thought of him ‘dead”. Actually emigration was considered to be a “living death”. One of the songs dedicated to emigration is “ My Yannis, your handkerchief”. It’s about the real pain of separation, pain for those going abroad, for those who would never return but also for those who stay behind (parents, sisters, brothers, wives). The family of the emigrant Yannis is mourning for his emigration and asks for his coming back. The word "handkerchief" which was washed in 5 rivers and left its stain in all 5 rivers reveals the pain which is also transferred to the elements of nature. It is a typical folk song from Epirus (north-west of Greece). The tune of such ‘Epirotic’ songs is gloomy; even the songs with happy or satirical content sound really sad.
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
Songs dedicated to emigration
Emigration is a central phenomenon in the life of the Greeks, because lots of Greek people were obliged to emigrate since the old times due to economic reasons. The difficulty of travelling (ships, caravans, etc.) made the return of the emigrant so impossible that his relatives thought of him ‘dead”. Actually emigration was considered to be a “living death”. One of the songs dedicated to emigration is “ My Yannis, your handkerchief”. It’s about the real pain of separation, pain for those going abroad, for those who would never return but also for those who stay behind (parents, sisters, brothers, wives). The family of the emigrant Yannis is mourning for his emigration and asks for his coming back. The word "handkerchief" which was washed in 5 rivers and left its stain in all 5 rivers reveals the pain which is also transferred to the elements of nature. It is a typical folk song from Epirus (north-west of Greece). The tune of such ‘Epirotic’ songs is gloomy; even the songs with happy or satirical content sound really sad.
2nd song:
"MENEXEDES & ZOUMBOULIA", " SWEET VIOLETS & HYACINTHS", FROM EPTANISA (7 ISLANDS, IONIAN SEA, WEST OF GREECE)
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
Cantata
The word cantata comes from the Latin word cantare that means "to sing". Cantatas owe their creation to the Venetians. Actually they are a combination of the pure Greek element of the Ionian Islands (Eptanisa), situated in the west of Greece, with Italian musicality. They are performed in the string instrument accompaniment (mainly the guitar & the mandolin) from triphonic choir. Cantatas are connected with the young men's habit of singing outside the windows of their girlfriends or girls they are in love with, at nights, in order to express their feelings of love. The song “Sweet violets & Hyakinths” is a typical cantata. A young man is looking for his dearly-loved girl and begs her to come back to him. He is sending his regards by means of the flowers and the sea birds. Her absence is so intense that he prefers to die rather than living without her.
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
Cantata
The word cantata comes from the Latin word cantare that means "to sing". Cantatas owe their creation to the Venetians. Actually they are a combination of the pure Greek element of the Ionian Islands (Eptanisa), situated in the west of Greece, with Italian musicality. They are performed in the string instrument accompaniment (mainly the guitar & the mandolin) from triphonic choir. Cantatas are connected with the young men's habit of singing outside the windows of their girlfriends or girls they are in love with, at nights, in order to express their feelings of love. The song “Sweet violets & Hyakinths” is a typical cantata. A young man is looking for his dearly-loved girl and begs her to come back to him. He is sending his regards by means of the flowers and the sea birds. Her absence is so intense that he prefers to die rather than living without her.
3RD song:
ΜILO MOU ΚΟΚΚΙΝΟ, "MY RED APPLE", FROM WESTERN MACEDONIA
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
THE RED APPLE is a folk traditional song from Macedonia, the North of Greece, and people usually sing it in weddings. It’s beat is 7/8. It’s a love song and it’s about separation. The singer is sad because he cannot meet his girlfriend (or she doesn’t respond to his love feelings). He is looking for her everywhere, in her house, in the fountain where she’s gone to drink water, but in vain.
4TH SONG:
"VASSILIKI" ( A FEMALE NAME), FROM NORTH OF GREECE
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
Vassiliki
The song is based on a true story of an unlucky love. Vassiliki fell in love with Stergios, a young man, but their affair did not have a happy end. Vassiliki, feeling betrayed, decides to commit suicide by drinking poison. Marif is the cemetery which is situated in the city of Veroia, North-west of Greece. The lyrics belong to an unknown writer, but it was composed by the contemporary composer Nikos Ziogalas.
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
THE RED APPLE is a folk traditional song from Macedonia, the North of Greece, and people usually sing it in weddings. It’s beat is 7/8. It’s a love song and it’s about separation. The singer is sad because he cannot meet his girlfriend (or she doesn’t respond to his love feelings). He is looking for her everywhere, in her house, in the fountain where she’s gone to drink water, but in vain.
4TH SONG:
"VASSILIKI" ( A FEMALE NAME), FROM NORTH OF GREECE
1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG
Vassiliki
The song is based on a true story of an unlucky love. Vassiliki fell in love with Stergios, a young man, but their affair did not have a happy end. Vassiliki, feeling betrayed, decides to commit suicide by drinking poison. Marif is the cemetery which is situated in the city of Veroia, North-west of Greece. The lyrics belong to an unknown writer, but it was composed by the contemporary composer Nikos Ziogalas.