Lamentation? (1995)

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When I composed "Lamentation?" back in 1995, my main goal was to portray elements of a tragedy (usually dealing with Death) with all these idiosyncrasies which someone could find in certain cultures. Always there is a point, in the sadness of the His presence (Death), when people (especially in some cultures) need to laugh at Him by means of dancing or saying jokes or even laugh out loud; Here is where my dance comes to portray this aspect.

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"Lamentation?" starts with a narrative and mournful way. Melancholic would be a more sufficient characterization . The dance which follows, is this specific element which keeps the balance in certain devastating situations. The balance between sadness and joy.

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Characteristic lament sounds are the quarter tones and the existence of a glissando chord which the performer realizes by playing and singing at the same time.

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For this work I did use thoughts and feelings derived form my home land Greece which I tried to transfer with a direct and at the same time a dynamic way for the performer.

(First Prize- advanced category- at the SKOA/Greece composition competition, 1996