Creator: Traditional
Work Type: Poem
Description:
Του Νεκρού Αδελφού (The Dead Brother’s Song) is a celebrated Greek folk poem that delves into the themes of familial loyalty, supernatural intervention, and the resilience of human bonds beyond death. The narrative centres on a mother’s desperate plea to her deceased son, Konstantinos, to return from the dead and fulfil a promise to his sister, Areti. Konstantinos, moved by his mother’s grief and the power of her love, rises from the grave to bring Areti back home, overcoming numerous supernatural challenges along the way. This poignant story highlights the enduring strength of family obligations and the lengths to which one will go to honour them.
The poem is a quintessential example of Greek demotic poetry, a genre that encapsulates the oral traditions and cultural values of Greece. It intertwines the themes of death and resurrection with the moral imperative of keeping one’s promises, thus reflecting deeply ingrained societal values. The use of supernatural elements, such as Konstantinos’s return from the dead, showcases the rich tapestry of Greek folklore, where the line between the living and the dead is often blurred, allowing for powerful expressions of love and duty.
Του Νεκρού Αδελφού has had a lasting impact on Greek culture, influencing literature, music, and performing arts. Its timeless narrative continues to resonate, illustrating the universality of its themes. The poem has been adapted into various artistic forms, each iteration paying homage to its emotional depth and cultural significance. The enduring popularity of the poem underscores its role in preserving and transmitting Greek cultural heritage through the generations.
Relationship to Sicilianos's Work:
The Dead Brother’s Song and Yorgos Sicilianos’s Ballade, Op. 56 share a deep cultural and emotional connection rooted in Greek folklore. Sicilianos was profoundly moved by the folk poem, which tells the haunting story of Areti, who is guided home by the ghost of her dead brother, Konstantis, only for both to die in their mother’s arms. This narrative, with its themes of loss, duty, and the supernatural, captivated Sicilianos from a young age and inspired his symphonic fantasy.
In Ballade, Sicilianos does not attempt a direct musical retelling of the poem but rather aims to capture the profound emotions and atmosphere it evokes. The complexity and power of the poem, which mirrors the tragic grandeur of an Aeschylean tragedy, are translated into a musical form that allows the characters and themes to move freely within the framework of myth and imagination. Sicilianos’s work seeks to convey the lingering sense of deep sadness and the poignant beauty that arises from the poem, using the abstract language of music to evoke the same emotional depth.
The Ballade thus stands as a tribute to the unique power of The Dead Brother’s Song, encapsulating its rich linguistic and emotional heritage while transforming it into a new artistic medium that preserves the essence of the original folk narrative.
See: Sicilianos Archive Files #4, 5 & 6 in Ballade.
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YSC99 |
Ballade |
Simphonic Fantasy for Large Orchestra |
56 |
4334-4331, Harp, Timpani, Percussion (Xylophone, Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Triangle, Tam-Tam, Cymbals, Clapper), Strings |