history Folk songs belong to what we call oral literature, a long tradition of fluid texts, songs, motives which circulate between generations and languages. In this fluid environment, some phrases, motives, lines, even some character types became solid to be more easily remembered by singers and narrators. Such a story line constitutes the so-called Dead Brother’s Song, a narrative folk song which is considered to be one of the oldest in the Balkan languages and traditions. The song was probably composed in Asia Minor around the 9th century, in the time of the Byzantine Empire. It is most certain that the poem wasn’t just recited and narrated but also sung by the people at that time that’s why it’s called song, unfortunately there are no evidence of any surviving music. The main figures of the poem in its Greek version are Constantis (the brother) and his sister Arete (which in Greek means virtue). Among the main characteristics of the song are these of the so-called paralogē – παραλογή, like the strong and lively narrative character, the presence of highly dramatic elements but also the presence of supernatural, fairytale-like motives, like speaking birds, resurrections etc. The Dead Brother’s Song was widespread in the Greek-speaking world during the middle and late Middle Ages, as proven by the many variants that have survived in various places and dialects of Greece. Is also survived in other languages and literatures in the Balkans., in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia a.o but also in the Western European tradition. Versions of the ballad have been collected from traditional singers in England, Ireland and North America. In 1894, Argiris Eftaliotis wrote a drama in three acts called Vourkolakas which was based on the poem of Dead Brother’s Song. The title of the play alludes to the resurrection of the brother from the muds and dirt of his tombs but also to the word βρυκόλακας – vrikolakas, which in Greek means vampire.
the album The present music album was composed by Kostika Çollaku in the summer of 2020 for the theatrical play Dead Brother’s Song directed by Evi Sarmi based on Vourkolakas by Argiris Eftaliotis. Due to the intertemporal popularity of Dead Brother’s mythology among balkan countries and traditions, as explained above, Evi Sarmi’s play included elements of five languages (Bulgarian, Serbian, Greek, Albanian and Romanian). This choice contributed also in the process of music making: five poems by poets of each of these traditions became songs (track: 3, 4, 6, 9 and 12) and functioned as stasima* during the play. The rest of the texts incorporated in the album derive from the play Vourkolakas by Argiris Eftaliotis. The architecture of the music was built on three main cores: Τhe main characters’ voices (Constantis, Arete, Despo) representing the human world Τhe three fates’ voices representing the supernatural Τhe male choir representing nature The music is heavily influenced by the balkan folk music from all the countries mentioned above and also from oral polyphonic singing of Εpirus and Βulgaria. The usage of instruments is very restricted. *stasima
(in ancient Greek drama) a choral ode, especially in tragedy, divided into strophe and antistrophe: usually alternating with the epeisodion and, in the final ode, preceding the exodos.
the poem Mother with your nine sons and with your only daughter, the precious the most beloved daughter. She was twelve years old and the sun had not seen her. In darkness she bathed her and without moonlight she is making her hair, 5 under the star and the Bringer of Light she was tying her ribbons. They’ve sent men from Babylon to ask her as a bride, to take Arete too far away in the foreign lands. The eight brothers don’t want and Constantine wants. -My mother lets give Arete as a bride to the foreign lands. 10 Abroad, there that I am walking, in the foreign lands that I am travelling, And if we go abroad, not to be considered foreigners. -You are wise Constantis, but you replied wrongly. And if, my son, to me comes death, and if, my son, illness happens to come to me, If bitterness or joy comes, who will go to bring her back to me? 15 -I quote the Heaven as judge and the Saints as witnesses, if death happens to come, if happens to come illness, if bitterness or joy comes, I will go to bring her to you. And once they gave Arete as bride in the foreign lands and years of misery and months of anger came 20 and death fell upon them and the nine brothers died the mother was left all alone. In all the graves she was crying, in all she was mourning In front of Constantine’s grave she was pulling her hair. “Damn you, Constantis, and damn you a myriad times, 25 cause you exiled my Arete in the foreign lands! The promise that you gave me when will you fulfil? You quoted the Heaven as judge and the Saints as witnesses that if bitterness or joy comes, you will go to bring her to me”. From the myriad anathemas and the heavy curse, 30 the earth was shaken and Constantis came out. He turns the cloud into horse and the star into bridle and the moon into companion and goes to bring her back. The leaves the mounts behind him and the mountains in front. He founds her making her hair out, under the moonlight. 35 From far away he greets her and from a close distance he tells her: -Stand up sister to leave, lets go to our mother. -Alas, my brother, and why that time of the night? If maybe it is cause of joy, I should wear my jewels and come and if it is cause of bitterness, tell me that, to get dressed in black and come. 40 -Come Arete in our home and let it be the way you are. He kneels the horse and makes her sit behind.
45
50
55
60
65
In the way they were going, little birds were singing. They were not singing like birds, nor like swallows, but they were only singing and saying with human voice: “Who has seen a beautiful lady being led by a dead?”! -Did you hear, my Constantine, what the little birds are saying? -They are little birds and let them sing, they are little birds and let them say. And a little further on their way other little birds are telling them: “Isn’t pity and unfair, very strange, the alive to walk along with the dead?”! -Did you hear, my Constantine, what the little birds are saying? That the alive walk along with the dead. -It is April and they sing and May and they are nesting. -I am afraid of you my brother and you smell frankincense. Last night we went far away to Saint John’s and the priest incensed us with too much frankincense. And even later on their way more little birds are telling them: “Look what a miracle and evil takes place in the world, such a beautiful delicate lady being led by the dead!” Arete heard that again and her heart was broken. -Did you hear, my Constantine, what the little birds are saying? -Stop Arete talking about the birds and let them say whatever they want! -Tell me were is your beauty and your manfulness and your blonde hair and the beautiful moustache? -It’s been a long time since I got ill and my hair has fallen.
Over there, near there, they arrive to the church. He mightily hits his horse and is lost from in front of her. And she hears the gravestone clashing, the soil buzzing. Arete sets off and goes home by herself. 70 She sees her gardens leafless, the trees sickly she sees the mint dried, the carnation turned black she sees in front of her door grass having grown. She finds the door locked and the keys having been taken and the windows of the house been tightly bolted. 75 She knocks the door mightily, the windows are crunching. -If you are a friend, come in, and if you are an enemy, go away and if you are bitter Charon, I don’t have more sons and my poor little Arete is far away in the foreign lands. -Stand up my mother, open the door, stand up my sweet mother. 80 -Who is the one who knocks my door and calls me “mother”? -Open the door, my mother, open it and it is me, your Arete. She came down, they hugged and they both died.
D E A D
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
1.FATES Οι τρεις Μοίρες χέρι χέρι, σε γης και θάλασσας τα μέρη, κι όλο πάμε γύρω γύρω, τρεις για σένα, τρεις για μένα.
Three Fates hand by hand, across lands and waters, always going round and round, three for you, three for me.
2.WHAT KIND OF BIRD (arete’s theme)
excerpt from the play “Vourkolakas” by Argiris Eftaliotis
Ήθελα να ‘ξερα, σα με γεννούσε η μάνα μου, τι πουλί να κελαϊδούσε και με μάγεψε
Wish I knew, when mother bore me, what kind of bird was singing and enchanted me
3.ETERNAL WATERS (Predvechnite vodi)
excerpt from the poem “Nirvana” by Peyo Yavorov
Предвечните води, всевечните води — кристални, бездънни и безбрежни, призивно прохладни Но страх ни е да пием, нас — страдални, безсънни, безнадеждни, знойно жадн
Eternal waters, eternal waters — crystalline, bottomless and boundless, invitingly cool But we are afraid to drink, we are suffering, sleepless, hopeless, with burning lips
D E A D
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
4.POPLARS (Jablanovi)
excerpt from the poem “Jablanovi” by Jovan Dučić
Zašto noćas tako šume jablanovi, tako strašno, čudno? ko slutnje; i snovi
How come so passionately the poplars dance this night? Like premonition, like dream
5.Ι’LL BRING HER BACK (Oath)
no lyrics
6.AN ENCHANTING SECRET
excerpt from the play “Vourkolakas” by Argiris Eftaliotis
Από τη μάνα το μωρό απο τη γης βγαίνει λουλούδι απ’το πηγάδι το νερό κι απ’την αγάπη το τραγούδι Μα το τραγούδι οσο γλυκό, όσο χαρόκαρδο κι α βγαίνει έχει ενα μάγιο μυστικό η γλύκα του να σε πικραίνει
Marita Tsalkitzoglou as Despo (Mother)
From a mother comes a baby, from the earth a flower’s born. From a well flows some water and from love there’s always song. The song might be sweet, as heartwarming as can be, it carries an enchanting secret that its sweetness may embitter you.
D E A D
from left to right: Ifigenia
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
Papouli, Stellina Vogiatzi, Pélagie Hadzinikitas, Alexandros Zafeiriadis, Marita Tsalkitzoglou, Maria Kondylidou
7.PARTRIDGE
excerpt from the play “Vourkolakas” by Argiris Eftaliotis
Μια πέρδικα. — μια πέρδικα, μονάκριβη Την είχε η μά — την είχε η μάννα στο κλουβί, Έρχεται άγουρος την παίρνει, και στα ξένα τηνε φέρνει.
A partridge. — a partridge, dear Her mother ke — her mother kept her in the cage, Unripe comes he and takes her, to foreign lands she’s taken.
Στα ξένα και — στα ξένα και στα μακρινά, περνούνε χώ — περνούνε χώρες και βουνά, Μα δε βρήκανε κονάκι σαν κι αυτό το χωριουδάκι.
To foreign lands — to foreign lands and distant, crossing cou — crossing countries and mountains, Still they found no other shelter than this little village better.
D E A D
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
8. FARAWAY FEAST no lyrics
9. THE NIGHTINGALE HUSHED (Bilbili pushoj)
excerpt from the poem “bukuria” by Naim Frashëri
Bilbili pushoj, lulet u-thanë! Fletëtë rënë. gjësendi më s’mbet. Zëmra ime zjen, e ty më s’të gjen.
The nightingale hushed, the flowers wilted! The leaves had fallen, Nothing living remained. My heart is burning, because it can’t find you.
10. DEATH I BRING YOU
excerpt from the play “Vourkolakas” by Argiris Eftaliotis
Θάνατο γύρεψες και θάνατο σου φέρνω
Alexandros Zafeiriadis as Constantis
Death you sought and death I bring you
D E A D
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
11.TODAY THE SKY IS SHINING
excerpt from the play “Vourkolakas” by Argiris Eftaliotis
Σήμερα λάμπει ο ουρανός, σήμερα λάμπ’ η μέρα. Σήμερα στεφανώνεται αϊτός την περιστέρα. Όντας σε γέννα η μάννα σου, ο ήλιος εκατέβη, Και σου ‘δωκε την ομορφιά και πάλι ματανέβη. “Ανοίξαν οι εφτά ουρανοί, τα δώδεκα βαγγέλια, Και πήραν το παιδάκι μου από τα δυό μου χέρια.”
from left to right: Maria
Today the sky is shining, so is the day today is getting married an eagle with a dove. Once mother bore you, the sun came down it gave you beauty, and rose back again. “The seven skies opened, the gospels too and they took my own child from my hands”
Kondylidou as fate III, Pélagie Hadzinikitas as fate II, Ifigenia Papouli as fate I
D E A D
12.MELANCHOLY (Melancolie)
excerpt from the poem “Melancolie” by Mihai Eminescu
Părea că printre nouri s-a fost deschis o poartă Prin care trece albă regina nopţii moartă. O, dormi, o, dormi în pace printre făclii o mie Şi în mormânt albastru şi-n pânze argintie.
It seemed that midst the clouds a gate was opened wide Where crossed the white queen of the dead night. O sleep, o sleep in silence among the thousand torches There in your silver garments, there in your crystal tomb.
13.BECOME BIRD AND FLY
excerpt from the play “Vourkolakas” by Argiris Eftaliotis
Γίνε πουλί και πέταξε να φέρεις την Αρετή μου από τα ξένα Πέτα ψυχή εκεί που ζωντανού φωνή δε φτάνει
Become bird and fly, to bring my Arete back from abroad. Fly soul, where no living voice can reach.
14.THE AWAKENING instrumental
15.DREAM WITHIN A DREAM (arete’s theme) no lyrics
16.FATES (finale) same as no.1
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
D E A D
B R O T H E R ’ S
S O N G
album credits Marita Tsalkitzoglou
tracks: 7, 13
Alexandros Zafeiriadis
track: 7
arete:
Stellina Vogiatzi
tracks: 2, 7
fate i:
Ifigenia Papouli
tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16
fate ii:
Pélagie Hadzinikitas
tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16
fate iii:
Maria Kondylidou
tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16
Constantin Răileanu
track: 3, 4, 6, 9, 12
Elio Caldìs
track: 2
despo (mother): constantis:
kralis: stefanis:
male choir: choral conductor:
guest: composer: selection of poems and texts: recording, producer, album design: mix engineer, mastering: photographer:
Anton Pann Byzantine Choir tracks: 3, 4, 6, 9, 12 Constantin Răileanu Nuică Ștefan Ștefan Aurel Ștefan Ene Octavian Nica Cristian Suditu Daniel Coman Ioan Mihai Filip Cătălin Costea-Marcu Andrei Răuță Justin Lupu Cătălin Astanei Ionuț Tănase Tudor Kostika Çollaku Evi Sarmi, Kostika Çollaku Kostika Çollaku Yanis Mavridis, Cue Productions Tasos Thomoglou
© Kostika Çollaku 2022 All rights reserved. contact information:
Kostika Çollaku k012345687@hotmail.com +306946723545 Thessaloniki, Greece composer: Kostika
Çollaku
KOSTIKA ÇOLLAKU
DEAD BROTHER’S SONG
1.Fates 1:26 2.What kind of bird (Arete’s theme) 3:04 3.Eternal waters (Predvechnite vodi) 1:36 4.Poplars (Jablanovi) 1:18 5.I’ll bring her back (Oath) 0:49 6.An enchanting secret 1:47 7.Partridge 2:06 8.Faraway feast 0:48 9.The nightingale hushed (Bilbili pushoj) 1:11 10.Death i bring you 1:56 11.Today the sky is shining 1:45 12.Melancholy (Melancolie) 1:34 13.Become bird and fly 3:01 14.The awakening 7:07 15.Dream within a dream (Arete’s theme) 2:43 16.Fates (finale) 0:54