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Modern Greek Heroic Oral Poetry

Various Artists
Modern Greek Heroic Oral Poetry
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The tradition of heroic oral poetry begun by Homer (9th or 8th century BC?) continued into the 20th century in parts of Greece and Cyprus. The classic tales of battles and tragedies passed down from father to son since antiquity were recorded in the 1950s in a series of field recordings by James Notopoulos. The singers of these songs are mostly illiterate shepherds or farmers who learned the art of singing heroic tales from their fathers. The liner notes discuss the important role that oral tradition plays in village life and includes lyrics in Greek and English and summaries of each poem.

Track Listing

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101
The Abduction of Digenes' Bride n/a 5:14
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102
The Death of Digenes n/a 15:02
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201
Lene Botzaris n/a 6:32
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202
The Crow and the Battle of Valtetzi n/a 4:46
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203
The Song of Daskaloyiannes n/a 3:27
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204
Erotokritos n/a 2:38
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205
What Ails the Mountains of Crete n/a 7:39

Album Info

Catalog Number(s)

FW04468, FE 4468

Year(s) Released

1959

Label/Collection

Folkways Records

Genre(s)

Poetry

Country(s)

Greece

Culture Group(s)

Greek

Credit(s)

James A. (James Anastasios) Notopoulos - Recorder
 Harold Courlander - Producer
 Ronald Clyne - Designer
Download Liner Notes

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