Many Thanks to Giannis Statheas for his invitation to participate in Lyre Challenge. I would like in turn to invite Elias Patrinos and Konstantinos Fourlanos to participate.
Alcaeus - Dioscuri
απ. 34a.1-12 Lobel-Page
In the following fragment, Alcaeus of Mytilene calls upon Dioscuri and praises them. This poem has been written as a closed verse with repetitive aeolic meters:
− ᵕ − − − ᵕ ᵕ − ᵕ − − |
− ᵕ − − − ᵕ ᵕ − ᵕ − − |
− ᵕ − − − ᵕ ᵕ − ᵕ − −
− ᵕ ᵕ − − |
Based on this meter, I composed the melody based on the archaic Dorian harmony mentioned from “Damon” in his texts. Its interval sequence is:
| 1/4 | 1/4 | 2 | 1 | 1/4 | 1/4 | (2)
*1 = one tone, 1/2 = one semitone, 1/4 = one quartertone and 2 = two tones (major third as called in classical music).
On these intervals I also tuned the Kithara and played it with techniques that are mentioned that time. In this chant I use the pronunciation of the Attic dialect which is based on written references of the Ancient Greek literature.
Lyrics:
δεῦτέ μοι νᾶσον Πέλοπος λίποντες
παῖδες ἴφθι̣μοι Δίος ἠδὲ Λήδας,
εὐνόωι θύμωι προφάνητε, Κάστορ
καὶ Πολύδευκες,
οἲ κὰτ’ εὔρηαν χθόνα καὶ θάλασσαν
παῖσαν ἔρχεσθ᾽ ὠ κυπόδων ἐπ᾽ ἴππων,
ῤήα δ᾽ ἀνθρώποις θανάτω ῤύεσθε
ζακρυόεντος
εὐζύγων θρώισκοντες ἐπ’ ἄκρα νάων
πήλοθεν λάμπροι πρότον’ ὀντρ̣έχοντες,
ἀργαλέαι δ᾽ ἐν νύκτι φάος φέροντες
νᾶϊ μελαίναι.
Translation:
Come to me, leaving the island of Pelops
powerful sons of Zeus and Leda,
goodhearted, show yourselves, Castor
and Polydeuces,
Oh! All flat earth and sea
you’re travelling on swift horses,
and easily you save people from freezing to death,
τον παγερό,
leaping to the top of their well- made ships, shining from afar, climbing on mainstays,
in the night of painful darkness, giving light over their vessel
Alcaeus was an ancient Greek lyric poet from the island of Lesvos. He was born in Mytilene about 620 B.C. He was a contemporary and an alleged lover of Sappho, with whom he may have exchanged poems. He was born into the aristocratic governing class of Mytilene, the main city of Lesbos, where he was involved in political disputes and feuds.
The Dioscuri (>Dios+Kouri), Castor and Polydeuces, were children (twins) of Zeus and Leda, brothers of the Helen of Troy. They were Gods of light and they were associated with honesty, bravery, courage, kindness and virtue. They were protectors of the ships and sailors. The Greeks praised and worshipped them as Gods. They often called upon them for help and support on difficult times. They were also described as protectors and saviors of the mortal men.