Weekly World Music: "Mes Tou Aegeou Ta Nera" (English: "In the waters of the Aegean") by Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis
A traditional Greek folk song, in the Nisiotika style, from the islands of the East Aegean. The typical mode of the Nisiotika songs is based on “melisma”, a musical term referring to group of notes sung in a single syllable, opposite from the typical musical mode, in which each syllable feature its own note. The style is based on the repetition of the main words, with repeated phrases and half-verses, and words breaking in two and being completed later on with a repetition of the verse. English (in Italic) and Greek lyrics below:
In the waters of the Aegean (come out and see), in the waters of the Aegean, oh… in the waters of the Aegean angels are flying
And as they fl… (Help, Virgin!) and as they fly, oh….and as they fly they scatter roses.
Aegean ca…(Help Virgin!), Aegean calm, oh….Aegean calm your blue waters
So your chil… (Help Virgin) so your children, oh….so your children can come to your shining islands
Mes stou Aigaiou, (provale na deis) mes stou Aigaiou ta nera, o…mes stou Aigaiou ta nera, angeli fterougizoun
Kai mesa sto fter…(voitha Panaghia) kai mes’sto fterougisma tous, o… kai mesa sto fterougisma tous, triantafylla skorpizoun.
Aigaio mou ga…, (voitha Panagia) na galinepse o… na galinepse ta galana nera sou.
Na erthoun ta, (voitha Panaghia), na erthoun ta, o…na erthoun ta paidhakia sou sta foteina nisia sou.