Gheorghe Zamfir(flute) Sarba lui Damian. Old Romanian song
Because this is an old Romanian song, I tried to imagine the atmosphere of old Romania, centuries ago, with its amazingly simple houses, its beautiful monasteries and its mountains. Some of the shots are mine (not the best ones unfortunately), I took them while visiting a few outdoor museums in Transylvania. The old houses were taken from their original village and re-built in the museums, in order to simulate the life style and the image of old Romanian countryside.
Dancer in the dark
The images and the music do not belong to me, almost all the pictures were made by vangelis efthymiou, a Greek artist... I just thought they go well with bjork's music. And no, I don't intend to make money out of this video... And it's mature content, so don't watch it if you're a minor!
Pe-un podet de Raiu, Paula Seling
This is one of the most beautiful and old Christmas Carols I've ever heard. It comes from Transylvania and it's interesting how simple and almost unchristian (probably it has something to do with pre-Christian winter rituals) the lyrics are. In the old Romanian stories and Christmas carols, God is often seen as "walking among" people, very close to them - there's a perfect communion between the human and the divine. Moreover, although they're usually sung during Christmas Eve celebrating the birth of Christ, the carols are grouped depending on their addressee... for instance this one, although it seems simple, it's addressed to an unmarried man (the host) who hopefully will find love (sending the silver apples to princesses means finding a mate). Instead of focusing on the Holy Child, the carol praises the host and the wealth of his house due to the local belief that people must welcome the groups of carol singers in their house as they're are a sign of prosperity and luck. Also, the host has to reward the singers for their performance with apples and a type of knot-shaped bread specially made for Christmas. Enjoy and Happy Holidays to you all! This is a rough translation of the lyrics. "ON A FOOTBRIDGE IN HEAVEN On a footbridge in Heaven Oh, God On a footbridge in Heaven Come and sing carols On a footbridge in Heaven The wealthy noble man* Oh God, The wealthy noble man, Come and sing carols [the wealthy noble man] Made a prayer... And God gave him, Oh God, An apple tree <b>...</b>
Peun podet de Raiu Paula Seling colinde Transilvania Transylvanian Christmas Carols ancasmth
