A setting for
voice and instruments of a popular circle dance tune.
Please select: music score (pdf file),
or read on.
The dance “Kore”
Theodorakis
composed his
oratorio “To Axion Esti” as a deliberate replacement of the praise of
Mary by a
praise of the Greek Motherland, which finds its central expression in a
chorus
“Naoi sto schema t’ouranou,” depicted as sung by partisan soldiers on a
particularly desolate march. The instrumental section of this piece was
then
used with modern choreography for a dance which celebrated the cycling
descent
and reascent of Kore/Persephone. (The one goddess is named Kore
[maiden] in the
upper world and Persephone [bringer of destruction] in the lower
world.) In
this way the role of the goddess present in the liturgical chant Axion
Esti was
resored to Theodorakis’ tune by the choreographer. The words of the
oratorio
did not fit the theme of the dance Kore, and so I have fitted the
original
words of Axion Esti to the music, while maintaining the rhythm of the
proper
chant to these words. As a mark of acknowledgment to the spirit and
work of Theodorakis,
I have suggested a modern Greek pronunciation of these words.
(Modern Greek transliteration)
Axion estin os alithos makarizin se tin theotokon,
tin aimakariston ki panamomiton ki metera tou theou imon.
Tin timioteran ton heruvim ki endhoxoteran asikritos ton serafim.
Tin adhiafthoros theon logon tekoussan tin ontos theotokon se megalinomen.
Αξιον εστιν ως αληθως μακαριζειν Σε την θεοτοκον,
την αειμακαριστον και παναμωμητον και μητερα του θεου ημον.
Την τιμιωτεραν των Χερουβιμ και ενδοξοτεραν α συγκροτος των Σεραφιμ.
Την αδιαφθορως θεον Λογον τεκοθσαν, την οντως θεοτοκον Σε μεγαλυνομεν.
It is meet and right to bless you, ever-esteemed Theotokos [god-bearer],
most pure and Mother of our God.
More worthy of honour than the Cherubim; and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim.
You, who incorruptibly gave birth to God the Word, verily Theotokos we extol you.
(Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, sung during the consecration, before the litany and the Lord's prayer.)