Έπαρ' σινιά
Έπαρ’ σινιά1 στα χέρια σου –κορούλα μου
Μακράδια2 στα δαχτύλια σου –νυφούλα μου
Απόψα στου κυρού σ’ είσαι –κορούλα μου
Ταχιά3 ’ργά στου πεθερού ’σαι –νυφούλα μου
’Γαλιά γαλιά περπάτησε –νυφούλα μου
Και γαμπρός μετά σένανε – κορούλα μου
1σινιά: χόρτο που χρησιμεύει για το χρωματισμό των νυχιών
2μακράδια: φτιασίδια
3ταχιά: αύριο
In Anakoú on the eve of the wedding towards the end of the day, the bride’s hair was washed and she was suitingly dressed up. Up to 1850 the bride used to cover her face with four or five veils. Then, according to the Turkish custom, they painted both her finger- and tow-nails, using “kiná” (a varnish made of the leaves of the plant called “cyprus”). She then walked to the wedding barefooted. This custom was equally familiar to other villages of the same region (even as far as Pontus). The tunes usually employed were sad.
Time signature: 2/4
Mode: A minor low tetrachord with leading-tone.
Studio recording, 2001. Based on the original recording of 1930 by Melpo Merlier, founder of the “Music Folklore Archive” of the “Centre for Asia Minor Studies”.
