SONGS OF SIN Op. 50 (1992, unfinished). A cycle of songs for a young popular voice, mens chorus and military band based on the poetry of Dinos Christianopoulos and one poem by Yorgos Chronas. The work was recorded for piano and voice. It is sung by Andreas Karakotas with Dora Bakopoulou at the piano. Manos Hatzidakis the great Greek composer dedicated the work to those on whom music and songs can still have an erotic influence. The SONGS OF SIN occupied Manos Hadjidakis during the last three years of his life. With the indicative subtitle Sin is of Byzantine Origin and Love is Ancient, the record contains fifteen hitherto songs by the composer, of which, some he recorded with the collaboration of Andreas Karakotas at home, and others remained in written notation. His death prevented him from orchestrating the work, and so it was released in its original form for piano and voice. He was also one of the main proponents of the “Éntekhno”(ancient Greece) form of music. In 1960 he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song Never on Sunday from the film of the same name.
The scenes used in this beautiful video are from the 1950’s jean Genet Film Un Chant D’amour
And this one. You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes, if you try, you get what you need.
The naked piazza
Christianopoulos Dinos
2000
translated by Nicholas Kostis
For two years now I have been giving, and receiving
nothing. Whereas he has been on a free ride. “What
did I gain?” I asked myself from time to time with
bitterness. Untill the answer came from Cavafy him-
self: “You gained what is most precious, his face.”
The naked piazza, Bilieto Publications, Athens 2000
Διαβάστε περισσότερα: https://poets.gr/en/poets/christianopoulos-dinos/323-the-naked-piazza/108-what-i-gained
I love this poem by Dinos Christianopoulos. It reminds me of many encounters I’ve had. Sometimes, the magic just isn’t there.
The naked piazza
Christianopoulos Dinos
2000
translated by Nicholas Kostis
“Please don’t place me in an awkward situation,”
you said when I bent down and kissed your shoes.
I meant to transform my passion into a mystical
initiation, but made a mistake in my choice of initiate.
The naked piazza, Bilieto Publications, Athens 2000
Διαβάστε περισσότερα: https://poets.gr/en/poets/christianopoulos-dinos/323-the-naked-piazza/109-awkward-situation
Dear Mr. Cox, Thank you for introducing me to the “Songs of Sin.” This song, together with the clip from Genet, is very, very beautiful. I watched “Un Chant d’Amour” on HaPenis and thought it was powerful and moving, but this rendition of excerpts from the film, accompanied by Karakotas singing a “Song of Sin,” brings out the lyrical beauty of Genet’s work that I hadn’t seen or imagined. The song itself is exquisite, the singing and piano just lovely.