Bringing the diaspora closer through music
You might wonder why anyone would want to listen to traditional Cypriot folk songs in English, but a group in England has even secured National Lottery funding to create a CD of them
As a country, we’ve been modernising so fast that certain traditions have faded into the background. The older generation, sometimes quite rightly, say that if it weren’t for them, our cultural heritage would’ve gone down the drain ages ago. But they’re not the only ones keen to protect the island’s past, one group of people in the UK is so dedicated to Cyprus’ culture they’re making a CD of traditional Cypriot music… in English.
The Cypriot Academy, a UK cultural organisation, managed to secure a £10,000 National Lottery grant to produce a CD with traditional folk songs translated into English. The academy has an established track record of delivering a series of smaller-scale cultural initiatives.
But why, in an age of rock and pop would anyone be interested in breathing life into something that has been dead for so long? “It was so many things that made us want to do this. The feedback from cultural events organised by the academy, discussions with the UK Cypriot press and radio as well as messages received through our online activities that have shown that UK Cypriots are interested in cultural material that reflects our unique common heritage,” explained Andreas Koumi, one of the project managers. It’s a painstaking effort but Olympia Theodorou and Andreas Koumi and their team are already half way through getting the job done.
The CD, arranged by highly-regarded (London born) Cypriot composer, Harry Coutsavakis, who has written songs for Parios, Anna Vissi, Sfakianakis and Karras, will contain ten of the most popular folk songs of Cyprus, sung originally in the island’s vernacular. Tracks will include old favourites such as ‘Vraga’ (Breeches), ‘The Voice of Dillirka’ and ‘Psindri Vasilija’ (Slender Basil). “The songs have been translated to rhyme and scan in English because we wanted to capture the original flavour and pathos,” explained Olympia. As the songs are traditional old folk songs, copyright wasn’t an issue but there were other things to worry about. “Although it is more interesting to translate folk songs of Cyprus, to make them available to a worldwide audience, we had to get to grips with their true meaning because these are the type of songs that reflect the experiences of a colourful and enduring people with a unique perspective and indomitable spirit,” said Koumi.
Olympia’s is an important and difficult role; it is that of ‘the mean judge’. “I am in charge of auditioning the singers, something I’m finding extremely difficult especially now I’m having to write reject letters to those who haven’t got through and more so because I know most of these people,” she said. So, while Coutsavakis prepares the songs, giving them that extra ‘beat’ that will make them acceptable in today’s market, Olympia has been auditioning. “We’ve had a tremendous response as we opened the door to anyone who wished to participate. We’ve had nine year-olds to 44-year-olds coming in and around 30 to 40 people have auditioned. It’s fun and going well,” Olympia said.
The CD will feature about ten different voices of second and third generation UK Cypriots. “Although we’ve had older people coming in, we are looking for younger voices but we are also thinking about bringing everyone who auditioned back in for a one-number recording as a reward for showing so much interest,” said Andreas.
Unlike other singing auditions, this isn’t a cut throat competition. It’s one of the many attempts made by the Academy to bring Cyprus and it’s traditions to the fore. “We know that much of the material that currently exists tends to be polarised between Greek/Christian and Turkish/Muslim elements, reinforcing a perception of division, not only among Cypriots themselves but, just as importantly, in the eyes of the world,” the team say.
However, despite the lottery grant, there is still a problem with funding. “The money isn’t enough to get the singers in a studio and shooting and editing the videos professionally,” said Olympia. Yes, there will also be videos too, which are destined to be broadcast on satellite TV with a little help from local station Ant1. “It would be more to difficult to organise and finance over there,” they say, “but we’re hoping to show, once again, that people from different backgrounds can overcome division and acrimony and do something skilful and creative. Music brings people together, whatever their race or religion and this is our aim with this CD.”
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