Four Greek Folk Songs - Mátyás Seiber (1905 - 1960)

Pianist: Daniel Gordon
MátyásSeiber (1905 - 1960), Hungarian composer born in Budapest. He studied at the Music Academy under the guidance of ZoltánKodály and was particularly interested in Folk songs of different cultures. His first compositions of Folk songs were the 'Three Hungarian Folk Songs' at the age of seventeen and since then his folk song compositions range from France to Turkey.
In the 'Four Greek Folk Songs', Seiber adopts Greek compositional characteristics and creates a Mediterranean atmosphere.
I.O My Love, How Long
O my love,
How long have we to suffer?
So much grief and sorrow
So much pain.
When will all
These hours of torment vanish?
Do I pray to heaven?
All in vain.
II. Have Pity on me
Like a night of splendour, dark yet sparkling
Your eyes are shining on me.
O, your eyes are shining, as the starlight
Is shining down on the sea.
And a sweet enchantment is stealing
Deeper and deeper my heart.
Do I pray to heaven?
Have pity on me.
O, your lips are soft and red like cherries
and sweet seductive like wine
As I gaze upon them, I am filled with desire
To press them to mine.
But I fear if ever I taste their sweetness
All my peace will be gone.
Have pity on me.
III.Each Time, My Love, You Say Farewell
Each time, my love, you say farewell
And sail so far away from me.
It nearly breaks my lonely heart
That calls in vain across the sea.
And if you come and find me dead
O do not weep for me in vain, But with your sword avenge my love
Then will my soul, find peace again.
IV. Your Eyes are Dark and Beautiful
O your eyes are dark and beautiful
Glowing sparkling dark and beautiful
Sun kissed olives warm and sweet
If I could but I kiss them gently
Kiss your dark eyes oh, so gently Then my joy would be complete
Ah, your name so sweet and charming
Lovely name so sweet and charming
Soft as summer breezes sigh In my heart, I hear it ever
Beating in m y heart forever
Softly in my heart my darling
I shall hear it ‘till I die.