Forget about The Great American Songbook. You want oldies? How about Euripedes, who composed the story of Medea and Jason (of “and the Argonauts”) in 431 BC. As Mr. Portokalos famously said in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, “We were discussing Philosophy when you were hanging from trees.”
OK, enough of my Greek ethnocentrism. Eleni Karaindrou created a musical interpretation of the classic Greek tragedy with 17 musical vignettes over ¾ of an hour, mixing Greek instruments with solo voice and a female chorus. Brooding instrumentals on ”Argo’s Voyage,” “Ceremonial Procession” or “On the Way To Exile” combine brooding strings, clarinet and lutes to make you feel like you’re walking along the columns of Delphi, while the agonizing choir on “Madea’s Lament” or “All Hope is Lost” mixes Byzantine harmonies with other wordly sighs and passions. At times meditative, other times forlorn, the music takes you on to deep journeys, whether you understand the words or not. Don’t forget, Greeks INVENTED tragedy, so they’ve got it down to perfection. Drink in slowly, like a Retzina.
ECM Records