Lottery grant to Cypriot Academy for music CD

The Cypriot Academy, the UK Cypriot cultural organisation, has secured a £10,000 National Lottery grant to produce a traditional Cypriot music CD in the English language.

The CD, to be arranged by the highly-regarded Cypriot composer Harry Coutsavakis, will contain 10 of the most popular songs of Cyprus, as sung originally in the island's traditional vernaculars, 'Gibreiga' and 'Gibrizlija'. Tracks will include favourites such as Vraga (Breeches), The voice of Dillirka (Tilliria region) and Psindri Vasilija/Feslikan (Slender Basil). A fresh musical interpretation will help breathe new life into acknowledged classics, enhancing accessibility to UK Cypriots as well as a wider international audience.

Members of the Cypriot Academy have been painstakingly translating each song to rhyme and scan in English, so as to capture the original flavour and pathos. A number of these translations have already featured in the acclaimed novel 'The Cypriot' and publishers Dexter Haven have kindly given permission for elements of the novel's striking jacket design to be used for the CD cover.

Following in the footsteps of the successful 'UK Cypriot Film Festival', which took place at the end of last year, the ground-breaking music project will bring together UK Cypriot creative talent, as well as non-Cypriots, to demonstrate how people from differing backgrounds can overcome division and acrimony to celebrate and promote a common heritage.

"We're tremendously excited about this project," enthused Olympia, renowned Cypriot music guru who, together with Peter Christiansen, will be auditioning singers and overseeing recordings. "It will show the world what Cypriots can achieve when we work together in a spirit of mutual trust and understanding."

Details of the songs can be found at: http://www.cypriotacademy.com/songs.html



Last edited by The Cypriot on Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:09 am; edited 1 time in total
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Thkio kelles s' enan fesin en horun.
Two heads can't fit in one fez.

Well done! It is always good to hear about the promotion of Cypriot culture, music, and talent. I am wondering what is the process of applying for a similar grant and what criteria are applications approved on? Is there a website to go to or a contact person?

We look forward in following the progress of this Cypriot album.

p.s the translations of the songs to English in your link is very valuable to non Greek speaking Cypriots/Greeks - the meaning and background of these songs are priceless!


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www.JusticeForCyprus.com

please note that your hyperlink above is incorrect (you have [/b] at the end) - it should be . .

http://www.cypriotacademy.com/songs.html


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www.JusticeForCyprus.com

Thanks for your comments Admin. I've changed the link. The great thing about pursuing the Arts in the UK is the support available from non-government sources via the lottery. Details of the particular funding stream are available here:

http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/

You'd need to be constituted in the UK to apply and the project you have in mind would have to benefit UK citizens.


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Thkio kelles s' enan fesin en horun.
Two heads can't fit in one fez.

Welcome to the forum my gumbaro, like the many i will be looking forward to the release, have you mentioned the book called "The Cypriot" that has had all cypriots talking.

Welcome The Cypriot!

What a great resource


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Turkish Troops Out of Cyprus

Welcome The Cypriot to the forum, good to have you here and well done on the initiative of the Cypriot English song album - I trust it will go well. Tell me more about the book 'The Cypriot', what is it about? is it available online/in shops?


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www.justiceforcyprus.com

Thank you, Rousias. More details about the novel 'The Cypriot' are available here:

http://www.cypriotacademy.com/the_cypriot.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1903660017/qid=1149232327/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/203-3870045-0931964

It is now also available or can be ordered from good bookshops on the island too.


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Thkio kelles s' enan fesin en horun.
Two heads can't fit in one fez.

Thought this release might be of interest

Author of acclaimed novel 'The Cypriot', will be interviewed live on Radio London as part of the the World Music show, 9-10pm, Saturday 31 March.

The show will be devoted to Greek and Cypriot (including Gibrizlija) music, and starts at 8pm, hosted by DJ Ritu.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2006/09/20/world_music_feature.shtml


Dexter Haven Publishing
Curtain House
134-146 Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3AR
Tel 020 7613 3066 (+44 20 7613 3066 outside UK)


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Thkio kelles s' enan fesin en horun.
Two heads can't fit in one fez.

Go The Cypriot! we will be sure to tune in to hear the interview - very exciting and well done! I will include this in a email to all forum members)


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www.JusticeForCyprus.com