Greece: Vocal Monodies

Dimitras Kukas, familiarly known as Barba Mitsos (“Uncle Mitsos”), sang and composed these unaccompanied songs. Born at the end of the 19th century on the island of Syros, Kukas grew up in Mykonos, and until his death in 1980 was one of the last performers of this Greek oral tradition.

While Kukas’ songs are original compositions, he comments,“I keep the tradition of my father and grandfather, who sang this sort of song when I was a child.” Kukas draws upon the traditional distich, or two-line couplet, which is the keystone of Greek oral tradition. The distiches provide a body of pre-constructed formulas—images, comparisons, and adages—which Kukas uses and reworks in his own songs. The songs include essential themes of popular Greek repertoire such as love and sorrow, odes to mother, xenitia (songs for those far from home), and miroloia (funeral songs).

Track Listing

101	Kimumenos i xipnitos (Whether Awake or Sleeping) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	05:09
102	Apopse then kimithika (This Evening I Did Not Sleep) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	02:37
103	Ali kaimeni mu kardia (My Poor Heart) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	02:53
104	Sta Salona sfazun arnia (At Salona They Are Slaughtering Sheep) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	02:00
105	Me t'ah ke me t'alimono (With "Ah's" and "Alas's") Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	04:50
106	Poli anastenazune (Many Are Those Who Sigh) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	03:17
107	I mana ine paploma (Mother Is an Eiderdown) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	03:34
108	Dioxe me mana (Chase Me, Mother) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	04:30
109	Pios xeri i agapi mu (Who Knows, My Love) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	02:52
110	Otan pethano (When I Die) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	04:07
111	K'an kleo me parapono (Even If I Weep and Moan) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	02:59
112	Sikosu epano Yanno mu (Get Up, My Yannos) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	01:59
113	To mnima mu na khtisete (Build My Tomb) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	04:34
114	San thete na dite klamata (If You Wish to See Tears) Barba Mitsos (Dimitris Kukas)	02:07