The Street of Dreams -part 1 (Manos Hatzidakis)
Posted January 21st, 2012 at 05:05 PM by Solidaire
Updated February 2nd, 2013 at 03:19 AM by Solidaire
Updated February 2nd, 2013 at 03:19 AM by Solidaire
"Hello.
I've come to show you the Street of Dreams myself.
It doesn't stand out; it's just a street like all the other of Athens'.
It is -so to speak- the street where we live.
Small, insignificant, sad, tyrannical, and yet infinitely kind.
There is a lot of dirt, a lot of children, a lot of mothers, a lot of hopes; and a lot of silence.
And everything is blanketed by a tender, but also unbearable sky.
Here, in this street, the dreams of so many children are being born and die, until the moment that their breath will join the spring breeze of the Epitaph, and will be lost.
But at nights they cannot sleep. And when they don't dream - they sing."
With these few, roughly translated words from (one of the most significant Greek composers), I'd like to introduce you to a short journey through Greek music, and perhaps through the spirit of modern Greece itself. Sometimes, music can offer a better insight to the ethos and pathos of people than words can, or at least offer an emotional experience.
The above song is named "Odos Oneiron" ("Street of Dreams"), and here's an attempt to translate it:
Every garden has a nest for the birds
Every street has a heart for the children
But you, my lady, what might you be discussing with dawn
and watch the stars keep falling down like rain
Offer me your hair to turn into a prayer
and start the song all over again
Every home hides a little love in the silence
But a boy regards love as shameful
Continuing with the same composer:
Images from the film "Electra" (1962), an adaptation of the classic Euripides' tragedy, directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Irene Pappas as Electra.
Greek Lyrics: Nikos Gatsos
Music: Manos Hatzidakis
From the film "Never on Sunday" (1960), (one of the most famous Greek actresses) sings about Pireas, Athens' port.
Merkouri again, this time from a classic Greek film, "Stella" (1955).
From the film "Sweet Movie", a song accompanying the footage of Nazis unearthing the bodies of Polish prisoners, massacred by the Soviets at Katyń forest.
There are some very cruel images there - be warned.
A few songs by , perhaps the most famous Greek singer after Maria Callas, and one of the best-selling singers of all time.
Xartino to feggaraki (Paper moon)
Little Rallou
Kemal
A few more songs written by Hatzidakis.
Milse mou (Talk to me)
Peribanou
Paei o kairos (gone is the time)
Athanasia (immortality)
Immortality
Music: Manos Hadjidakis
Lyrics: Nikos Gatsos
What do you seek Immortality in front of my balcony?
You pay me no attention and how can my heart bear it
You were loved by kings and poets of this world
But not even a small twig of spearmint have you ever offered them.
You are cruel like Death's fist
But times came when you were deeply believed in.
Every generation wants you to have you for itself
Beautiful young lady, earned by no one.
What do you seek Immortality in front of my balcony?
Which strange sacrifice does life owe you?
There came thirsty Croesuses, humble pilgrims,
But you never offered them water from your garden's fountain.
You are cruel like Death's fist
but times came when they deeply believed in you.
Every generation wants to have you for itself
beautiful young lady, earned by no one.
Yiannis the murderer
Yiannis the murderer
-son of a woman from Patras
and of a man from Messolonghi-
last Sunday, right after the prison
passed by our house
We treated him desert
we treated him mint
but not a word
about the murder (x2)
Only Phrosi
-shedding sea coloured tears
of her large eyes-
kissed silently his precious hands
and went out of the hall
No one managed
to bear her pain
and no one from the family
found a word to say
And Yiannis the murderer
at the corner of the street
with the longing's thorn
remembered again
moons so distant
and the dream that was gone.
Finally, to conclude this first part dedicated to Hadzidakis, a song of his based on the rhythm of Zeibekiko dance, one of the most popular of Greece. I will explain more about it later, but for now, let this serve as a bridge between the Western-oriented music of Hadzidakis, and the folk musical tradition of Byzantine and Asia minor origin.
I've come to show you the Street of Dreams myself.
It doesn't stand out; it's just a street like all the other of Athens'.
It is -so to speak- the street where we live.
Small, insignificant, sad, tyrannical, and yet infinitely kind.
There is a lot of dirt, a lot of children, a lot of mothers, a lot of hopes; and a lot of silence.
And everything is blanketed by a tender, but also unbearable sky.
Here, in this street, the dreams of so many children are being born and die, until the moment that their breath will join the spring breeze of the Epitaph, and will be lost.
But at nights they cannot sleep. And when they don't dream - they sing."
With these few, roughly translated words from (one of the most significant Greek composers), I'd like to introduce you to a short journey through Greek music, and perhaps through the spirit of modern Greece itself. Sometimes, music can offer a better insight to the ethos and pathos of people than words can, or at least offer an emotional experience.
Manos_HatzidakisThe above song is named "Odos Oneiron" ("Street of Dreams"), and here's an attempt to translate it:
Every garden has a nest for the birds
Every street has a heart for the children
But you, my lady, what might you be discussing with dawn
and watch the stars keep falling down like rain
Offer me your hair to turn into a prayer
and start the song all over again
Every home hides a little love in the silence
But a boy regards love as shameful
Continuing with the same composer:
Images from the film "Electra" (1962), an adaptation of the classic Euripides' tragedy, directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Irene Pappas as Electra.
Greek Lyrics: Nikos Gatsos
Music: Manos Hatzidakis
From the film "Never on Sunday" (1960), (one of the most famous Greek actresses) sings about Pireas, Athens' port.
Merkouri again, this time from a classic Greek film, "Stella" (1955).
From the film "Sweet Movie", a song accompanying the footage of Nazis unearthing the bodies of Polish prisoners, massacred by the Soviets at Katyń forest.
There are some very cruel images there - be warned.
A few songs by , perhaps the most famous Greek singer after Maria Callas, and one of the best-selling singers of all time.
Xartino to feggaraki (Paper moon)
Little Rallou
Kemal
A few more songs written by Hatzidakis.
Milse mou (Talk to me)
Peribanou
Paei o kairos (gone is the time)
Athanasia (immortality)
Immortality
Music: Manos Hadjidakis
Lyrics: Nikos Gatsos
What do you seek Immortality in front of my balcony?
You pay me no attention and how can my heart bear it
You were loved by kings and poets of this world
But not even a small twig of spearmint have you ever offered them.
You are cruel like Death's fist
But times came when you were deeply believed in.
Every generation wants you to have you for itself
Beautiful young lady, earned by no one.
What do you seek Immortality in front of my balcony?
Which strange sacrifice does life owe you?
There came thirsty Croesuses, humble pilgrims,
But you never offered them water from your garden's fountain.
You are cruel like Death's fist
but times came when they deeply believed in you.
Every generation wants to have you for itself
beautiful young lady, earned by no one.
Yiannis the murderer
Yiannis the murderer
-son of a woman from Patras
and of a man from Messolonghi-
last Sunday, right after the prison
passed by our house
We treated him desert
we treated him mint
but not a word
about the murder (x2)
Only Phrosi
-shedding sea coloured tears
of her large eyes-
kissed silently his precious hands
and went out of the hall
No one managed
to bear her pain
and no one from the family
found a word to say
And Yiannis the murderer
at the corner of the street
with the longing's thorn
remembered again
moons so distant
and the dream that was gone.
Finally, to conclude this first part dedicated to Hadzidakis, a song of his based on the rhythm of Zeibekiko dance, one of the most popular of Greece. I will explain more about it later, but for now, let this serve as a bridge between the Western-oriented music of Hadzidakis, and the folk musical tradition of Byzantine and Asia minor origin.
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