From the Monastery of Panagia Ypseni...
St. Basil comes and passes by
He overlooks us, I know not why
He comes from Caesara Town
Mistress bring, mistress, bring, mistress, bring us something down
He carries pen and paper white
And sugar candies, sweet and bright
He brings his pen and ink for writing
You should see, you should see, you should see me in the fighting
The pen, it jumped up with one bound
And on the paper scribbled round
And then the paper started speaking
Yes, we swear, yes, we swear that the paper started speaking
The paper said, “Tis New Year’s Eve!
Oh, Mistress fair, I beg your leave;
Joy be your lot the whole year round
May your house, may your house, may your house be holy ground!”
“The New Year follows on Christ’s birth
So holy Christ who walks the earth
May bless you, every girl and boy
And fill all, and fill all—and fill all your hearts with joy!”
He overlooks us, I know not why
He comes from Caesara Town
Mistress bring, mistress, bring, mistress, bring us something down
He carries pen and paper white
And sugar candies, sweet and bright
He brings his pen and ink for writing
You should see, you should see, you should see me in the fighting
The pen, it jumped up with one bound
And on the paper scribbled round
And then the paper started speaking
Yes, we swear, yes, we swear that the paper started speaking
The paper said, “Tis New Year’s Eve!
Oh, Mistress fair, I beg your leave;
Joy be your lot the whole year round
May your house, may your house, may your house be holy ground!”
“The New Year follows on Christ’s birth
So holy Christ who walks the earth
May bless you, every girl and boy
And fill all, and fill all—and fill all your hearts with joy!”
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Do you know of a sung version of this either in Greek or English? This tune seems to have become well-known in the US due to George Winston's album "December". He has a song titled "Night Pt. 3, Minstrels". Winston, in turn, picked up the tune from a hammered dulcimer player named Malcolm Danglish on his album "Thunderhead". I am wondering how faithful their versions are to the original tune and I would like to hear the original Greek folk melody sung by someone familiar with it.
ReplyDeleteI did a quick search and couldn't find it. I'll put the question out to the Greek speaking network. :)
ReplyDeleteAsk and ye shall receive! The Greek network came through.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdXiK79hLRg
We have sheet music for this, both Byzantine and European. We will add a link early in the new year.
ReplyDeleteHere's a very clear history:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.greeksongs-greekmusic.com/greek-carols-for-the-new-year-arhiminia-kai-arhihronia/
Here's another:
http://www.explorecrete.com/traditions/christmas-carols.htm ( and then watch the 'new years' video on the page.)
My favorite version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I861Enq3NgU
Translated original lyrics:
It’s the beginning of the month, beginning of the year
High incense tree
Beginning of my good year
Church with the Holy Seat
It’s the beginning of our Christ
Saint and spiritual
He got out to walk on earth
And to welcome us
St. Basil is coming
From Caesaria
And doesn’t want to deal with us
May you long live, my lady
He holds (St. Basil) an icon and a piece of paper
With the picture of Christ our Savior
A piece of paper and a quill
Please look at me, the young man.
Thank you for your kindness in presenting this beautiful carol to St. Basil the Great on his feast day. I had heard it many years ago, in the hammered dulcimer version of Malcolm Dalglish, but until today I had never heard the original song.
ReplyDeleteIf sheet music of this is available, I would very much be interested in obtaining a copy.