I Tasoula

Part of the content is temporarily available only in Greek

The recording, a reissue in the United States from the record Concert Record Gramophone 4-14503, took place in Constantinople (Istanbul) on September 20, 1912, by Estudiantina Zounarakis. It includes a variation of the song “Kato stin Agia Marina” (Down in Agia Marina), which is found, in various versions, in Eastern Thrace under the title “Kato stin Agia Marini”, and in Epirus, in the Pogoni region.

In the Greek historical discography, two performances under this title are indentified. The first was recorded in Athens in 1930 by Ilias Litos on clarinet and Lazaros Rouvas on laouto (“Kato stin Agia Marina – Choros Ipeirou” [Dance from Epirus], Pathé X-80217 – 70300). The second was recorded in 1957 by Stefanos Paschalis, as his own composition, and Popular Orchestra with Filippos Rountas on clarinet (“Kato stin Agia Marina – Syrtos”, Parlophone Go 5483 – B 74429-II).

This particular “Epirote” version of the tune is also found in Albanian discography. In the 1930s, the group of Albanian clarinetist Selim Efendi, also known as Selim Asllan Tare, Selim Leskoviku, or Selim Stambolli, a member of the  Leskoviku musical family from the town of Leskovik in southern Albania, recorded probably in Constantinople the instrumental song “Kato stin aya marina” (Polydor 1183 BN – 51112). In the mid to late 1940s, Ajdin Asllan on lute and Gernet on violin recorded the tune in New York under the title “Valle e shtruar” (Me Re Record Co. 512-A and Balkan 512-A).

From the findings in discography, it is clear that the tune, in its various version, is still active, producing new performances and arrangements. For example:

– “Kato stin Agia Marina”, Savvas Siatras with Stavros Kapsalis on clarinet (Athens, 1979, LP “Aide Maro sto pigadi”, Kyklades LPKG 68).
– “Kato stin Agia-Marini”, Giannis Strikos, lyre – vocals, Giannis Dobridis, gaida (bagpipe) – vocals, Lefteris Pavlou, daouli (drum) – vocals (Thesaloniki, 1999, CD “Filoi Kalosorisate. Songs and Tunes of Eastern Rumelia”, En Chordais – 1911).
– “Kato stin Agia Marina”, Antonis Kyritsis with Petro-Loukas Chalkias on clarinet (Athens, 2000, CD “Ta Ipeirotika”, General Music GM 5010).
– “Kato stin Agia-Marina”, Giorgos Deas (vocals), Asterios Trakas (violin), and Argyris Kokkoris (lute), recording by KEPEM in Galatista on 2 October 2015 (uploaded to YouTube on 3 October 2015).
– “Kato stin Agia Marina”, an adaptation by Kostika Çollaku, born in Korçë, featuring Ilektra Karali on vocals and flute, 2023.

Finally, of particular interest is the performance of the song by Pauline Willerval (vocals and gadulka) and Jean Le Floc'h (accordion). The song was recorded at the Saint-Urfold Chapel in Brest on 26 October 2023 and was released under the title
"Kato stin Agia Marina / Κάτω στην Αγιά Μαρίνα".

Author (Composer):
Lyrics by:
Unknown
Singer(s):
Estudiantina Zounarakis
Orchestra-Performers:
Estudiantina Zounarakis
Recording date:
20/09/1912
Recording location:
Constantinople (Istanbul)
Language(s):
Greek
Publisher:
Victor
Catalogue number:
65982-B
Matrix number:
17361u
Duration:
3:29
Item location:
Kounadis Archive Record Library
Physical description:
10 in. (25 cm)
Source:
Kounadis Archive
ID:
Victor_65982_ITasoula
Licensing:
cc
Reference link:
Kounadis Archive, "I Tasoula", 2019, https://vmrebetiko.gr/en/item-en?id=11265
Lyrics:
Κάτω στην Αγιά Μαρίνα και στην Παναγιά, Τασούλα μ'
δώδεκα χρονώ κορίτσι πάει καλόγρια, Τασούλα μ'

Με σταυρούς, με κομπολόγια πάει στην εκκλησιά, Τασούλα μ'
ούτε το σταυρό της κάμει μήτε προσκυνά, Τασούλα μ'

Τα παλικάρακια βλέπει και χαμογελά, Τασούλα μ'

The recording, a reissue in the United States from the record Concert Record Gramophone 4-14503, took place in Constantinople (Istanbul) on September 20, 1912, by Estudiantina Zounarakis. It includes a variation of the song “Kato stin Agia Marina” (Down in Agia Marina), which is found, in various versions, in Eastern Thrace under the title “Kato stin Agia Marini”, and in Epirus, in the Pogoni region.

In the Greek historical discography, two performances under this title are indentified. The first was recorded in Athens in 1930 by Ilias Litos on clarinet and Lazaros Rouvas on laouto (“Kato stin Agia Marina – Choros Ipeirou” [Dance from Epirus], Pathé X-80217 – 70300). The second was recorded in 1957 by Stefanos Paschalis, as his own composition, and Popular Orchestra with Filippos Rountas on clarinet (“Kato stin Agia Marina – Syrtos”, Parlophone Go 5483 – B 74429-II).

This particular “Epirote” version of the tune is also found in Albanian discography. In the 1930s, the group of Albanian clarinetist Selim Efendi, also known as Selim Asllan Tare, Selim Leskoviku, or Selim Stambolli, a member of the  Leskoviku musical family from the town of Leskovik in southern Albania, recorded probably in Constantinople the instrumental song “Kato stin aya marina” (Polydor 1183 BN – 51112). In the mid to late 1940s, Ajdin Asllan on lute and Gernet on violin recorded the tune in New York under the title “Valle e shtruar” (Me Re Record Co. 512-A and Balkan 512-A).

From the findings in discography, it is clear that the tune, in its various version, is still active, producing new performances and arrangements. For example:

– “Kato stin Agia Marina”, Savvas Siatras with Stavros Kapsalis on clarinet (Athens, 1979, LP “Aide Maro sto pigadi”, Kyklades LPKG 68).
– “Kato stin Agia-Marini”, Giannis Strikos, lyre – vocals, Giannis Dobridis, gaida (bagpipe) – vocals, Lefteris Pavlou, daouli (drum) – vocals (Thesaloniki, 1999, CD “Filoi Kalosorisate. Songs and Tunes of Eastern Rumelia”, En Chordais – 1911).
– “Kato stin Agia Marina”, Antonis Kyritsis with Petro-Loukas Chalkias on clarinet (Athens, 2000, CD “Ta Ipeirotika”, General Music GM 5010).
– “Kato stin Agia-Marina”, Giorgos Deas (vocals), Asterios Trakas (violin), and Argyris Kokkoris (lute), recording by KEPEM in Galatista on 2 October 2015 (uploaded to YouTube on 3 October 2015).
– “Kato stin Agia Marina”, an adaptation by Kostika Çollaku, born in Korçë, featuring Ilektra Karali on vocals and flute, 2023.

Finally, of particular interest is the performance of the song by Pauline Willerval (vocals and gadulka) and Jean Le Floc'h (accordion). The song was recorded at the Saint-Urfold Chapel in Brest on 26 October 2023 and was released under the title
"Kato stin Agia Marina / Κάτω στην Αγιά Μαρίνα".

Author (Composer):
Lyrics by:
Unknown
Singer(s):
Estudiantina Zounarakis
Orchestra-Performers:
Estudiantina Zounarakis
Recording date:
20/09/1912
Recording location:
Constantinople (Istanbul)
Language(s):
Greek
Publisher:
Victor
Catalogue number:
65982-B
Matrix number:
17361u
Duration:
3:29
Item location:
Kounadis Archive Record Library
Physical description:
10 in. (25 cm)
Source:
Kounadis Archive
ID:
Victor_65982_ITasoula
Licensing:
cc
Reference link:
Kounadis Archive, "I Tasoula", 2019, https://vmrebetiko.gr/en/item-en?id=11265
Lyrics:
Κάτω στην Αγιά Μαρίνα και στην Παναγιά, Τασούλα μ'
δώδεκα χρονώ κορίτσι πάει καλόγρια, Τασούλα μ'

Με σταυρούς, με κομπολόγια πάει στην εκκλησιά, Τασούλα μ'
ούτε το σταυρό της κάμει μήτε προσκυνά, Τασούλα μ'

Τα παλικάρακια βλέπει και χαμογελά, Τασούλα μ'

Related items

See also