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A Slave in the Gallery Sighed

Ο σκλάβος αναστέναξε
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Original Lyrics
Ο σκλάβος αναστέναξεν
Ο σκλάβος αναστέναξεν και στάθην η φιργάδα
«Σκλάβε μ’ πεινάς, σκλάβε μ’ διψάς, σκλάβε μ’ ρούχα γυρεύγεις;»
«Ούτε πεινώ, ούτε διψώ, ούτε ρούχα γυρεύω
Ήμουν εννιά μερνώ γαμπρός, δώδεκα χρόνω σκλάβος
Και τώρα την καλίτσα μου τη στεφανούται άλλος»
Φέρετε τ’ άσπρο τ’ άλογο με τη χρυσή τη σέλα
Να καβαλ’κέψ’ ο Κωνσταντάς, να πάει να προφτάξει
Όσο να πει «έχετε γειά», σεράντα μίλια παίρνει
Όσο να πει «παν στο καλό», άλλα σεράντα παίρει...
Information
- Region: Cappadocia / Konya
- Area: Sinasos
- Categories: Acritic Song
- Rhythm: Free rythm
Collaborators
- Singer: Katerina Papadopoulou
- Violin: Yiorgos Marinakis
- Constantinopolitan lyra: Socrates Sinopoulos
Albums
Notes
This Byzantine ballad was sung in Sinasós, but probably originated in Constantinople. In this version the hero, a slave in a galley dreams that his wife is being married to another man and sighs in distress. Thereupon the galley comes to a hault. The captain hearing what has happened releases the slave. Being now free on the shore he summons his horse, rides it and arrives at the church shortly before the wedding. His identity is unclosed and the wedding is called off.
Time signature: Free
Mode: Low tetrachord on D, plus subtonic.
Recording information
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”.