Mythology In Our Language
Effects of Spanish Literature In Greek Letters and Arts
EDITORS: Koutsantonaki Maria - Sokka Paraskevi TRANSLATION: Dimitropoulou Evaggelia Edited by: Mpeltsos Nickolaos
Effects of Spanish Literature In Greek Letters & Arts The Spanish themes impacted heavily on Greek literature due to the fact that the two peoples have to share common cultural elements and they have both experienced similar life circumstances. Both experienced dictatorship and received rich effects from similar intellectual currents such as realism, romanticism, surrealism. Such projects attest to this effect is the Don Quixote of Cervantes and the poetry of Lorca that brought deep influence on poetry, theater and music.
Don Quixote
We will begin with his work '' Don Quixote '' that is known to have inspired composers and directors who want to present the likeable, dreamer hero who is chasing windmills and is fighting for the justice in the world and
the love of his beloved. Sometimes we use his stories and his example to describe human behavior, for example the 'quixotry' has passed into the conceptual vocabulary of the world and gives the sense of adventurism. Don Quixote is nevertheless a sensitive hero who wins the sympathy of the recipient.
Influence on Poetry
By the middle of the 2nd century interest in Don Quixote remains just the translation, while poetry incorporates its early “hero-centric” romantic spirit. The Greek translations of “Don Quixote”, such as those of Skylitsi, K. Kathraiou, Iatridi, Elias Matthaiou and Dim. Risou are considered until today as the most important translations.
Influence on Literature
It is referred that a large number of prose writers are touched by the forms of the work of Cervantes. The most insist on various versions of romantic Don Quixote. Attempts to escape this atmosphere were made in the 1960s by Renos Apostolidis Stelios Ksefloudas and Bost with the satire: “Don Quixote in Greece” without achieving their objectives though. In prose Nikos Kazantzakis is an exception in his works “Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas” and “Report to the Greco” where Kazantzakis’ physiognomy of Don Quixote is present. After 2004 literary texts for Cervantes appeared with “postmodern” and even “anarchic” character. There are a few but notable samples of writing such as those of the author Christos Boulotis and poet Nanos Valaoritis: “The memoirs of Rothinante” the litterateur Helen Karassavidou: “Cervantes saved you”. The last chapter deals with the uptake of Cervantes from the Greek Theatre.
Influence on theater
Don Quixote enters the Greek scenes of communities (Izmir, Istanbul) from the translations of Italian or French melodramas or fiction dramas, theatrical genres that flourished in the 19th century in urban centers. In the play of Vas. Ziogas: “Don Quixote in new adventures�, a pure love was devised between Don Quixote and Dulcinea. Here different elements coexist from the classical ancient greek myth, the Spanish religious dramas and the superhuman Nietzsche.
Federico Garcia Lorca
Lorca was born in Fuente Vaqueros, a small rural town of Andalucia, close to Granada in 1898 and on August 19 th, 1936 in the evening outside Granada he was executed by members of the local Francoite phalanx who had interrogated and tortured him. It is perhaps the most beloved and most -set to music foreign writerpoet by Greek composers that as a result his poetry was spread and loved in even wider Greek social layers.
A dedicated song from Lorca and set to music by Gatsos
The following set to music poem of Lorca for Ignacio presages his own end. Song: Blow and Death Lyrics: Federico GarcĂa Lorca & Nikos Gatsos Music: Stavros Xarchakos / Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias (1969) Reads: Manos Katrakis – Sings: Kostas Paschalis This poem was written by Lorca in memory of his friend.
Influence of Lorca on Elytis
Lorca enters the life of Elytis before the occupation - already in 1938, in the article - answer to George Theotokas about surrealism, Elytis mentions Lorca as one of the poets of the “new reality�. The recognition of Lorca by Elytis comes at a time when the need of poetry in Greece is imperative. Elytis uses Lorca, a writer who had already gained an international reputation, to smoothly introduce and legitimize a '' Mediterranean surrealism ' in Greece. Through the lyrics of Lorca Elytis discovers sounds and combinations unheard and conspires with N.Gkatsos in reciting verses in Spanish. He also translates Lorca and his translations are going to play a key role in the dissemination and uptake of the poetry of Lorca in Greece.
HADJIDAKIS –LORKA
The Greek musical journey into the poetic world of Lorca started by Manos Hadjidakis, who set to music the 'Bloody Wedding' ', which will be released in the music industry several years later in 1965. The great Greek composer will set to music Lorca once again, with the song ''Beyond the river'' (yield by Nikos Gatsos), which included in the circle ''Τhe great erotic'', with the singer Fleri Dandonaki.
LOIZOS-LORCA
The Great Spanish is linked with the ''input'' in discography of another unforgettable Greek composer Manos Loizos. In 1962 he recorded in the record company ''Philips�, the first song, which is none other than the '' Street Song '' poem of Lorca in Greek yield by Nikos Gatsos.
THEODORAKIS –LORCA
The next meeting of the Spanish poet with the Greek music takes place in 1967, the year that Mikis Theodorakis sets to music the '' Romancero Gitano '' (gypsy ballads) -his last composition before dictatorship. The work had been already translated by Odysseus Elytis, who freely gave seven of his poems to become songs. The songs of “The Wind and The Praised'', ''The Gypsy Nun'', ''The Beggarly Lady'', “Antonio Torres Heredia street of Seville”, “The death of Antonio Torres Heredia'' sung by Arleta.
LEONTIS –LORKA
Of the happiest moments of set to music work of Lorca in our country is the great record of Christos Leontis, “Ah Love” a performance made by Lefteris Papadopoulos. From the most famous and enduring records in our musical history is a meeting spouting from the lyricism, both of the Spanish poet and the Greek composer. The great songs-among them the carefully chosen, ''Fairytale'', ''Unbearable to love you'', “My love is bathed”, ''Day full of sorrow'', ''Ah Love'' etc.- were sealed by the amazing singing of Manolis Mitsias and Tania Tsanaklidou.
THEATER The house of Bernarda Alba. Translation: Mairi Vidali. Dodoni, 2001.
Donia Rozita, the single or The language of Flowers. Translation: Dimitris Kalokyris. Ypsilon, 1999
Bloody Wedding. Translation: Panos Kyparissis. Kedros, 1998
Bloody Wreaths. Translation: George Sevastikoglou. Dodoni, 1998
Marianna Pineda. Translation: Costas Zaroukas. Grigoris, 1971.
Germa. Translation: Alexis Solomos. Dodonis, 1986.
The Wonderful Cobbler. Translation: Alexis Solomos. Dodoni, 1986.
Theater and poetry. Translation: Nikos Gatsos. Icaros, 1994.