INVOKING APHRODITE Eπικαλείσθαι Αφροδιτη A Layne Redmond Project Invoking Aphrodite is dedicated to Ms. Jacqueline Karageorghis, the great scholar of Cypriot Aphrodite; Evie Lanitis, whose devotion and support first brought me to Cyprus to teach the frame drum; Marina Mouyiasi and the wonderful women of MA•GAIA, who found my book, When the Drummers Were Women, and were inspired to bring the frame drumming tradition of ancient Cyprus back to life. I – Invoking Aphrodite – 5:37 By Sappho, 7th c. BCE poet, composer and priestess of Aphrodite. Leave Crete, Come here, Come to the holy place Come to the sacred grove. Your altars are smoking with incense. Cold water sings through the fruited trees, Everything is shaded under the bower of roses And from the shimmering radiance of leaves An enchanted sleep drops down. Here is a meadow of spring flowers Where horses graze and a soft wind gently breaths. Come Aphrodite, pour your nectar into our golden cups In grace make the libation, bring your Melissaes to life. Layne Redmond: Remo Tambourine, Clave, Spoken Word Tadeu Mascarenhas: Synth Tommy Be: Remo Kanjira Vicki Richards: Violin Greek Chorus: Katerina Attalidou, Kalliopi Christophorou, Stalo Hadjipieri, Marina Mouyiasi, Ianthi Sparsis II - The Seikilos Epitaph – 7:41 The oldest surviving complete notated musical composition from a Greek tombstone, 2nd c. BCE. Written by Seikilos for his wife Euterpe. As long as you live, shine, be radiant! Let nothing grieve you beyond measure. For your life is only too short And time will call for you. Layne Redmond: Remo Bodhran, Gong, Spoken Word Vicki Richards: Violin Manuela Rodrigues: Vocals Greek Chorus: Katerina Attalidou, Kalliopi Christophorou, Stalo Hadjipieri, Marina Mouyiasi, Ianthi Sparsis III - The Hymn to the Muse – 8:03 Hymn to the Muse, written and notated by Mesomedes of Crete, 2nd c. CE. O Muse, precious one, sing to me, Thy inspiration a prelude for my own song. Send a breeze from your groves, vibrate my heart and mind, O Wise Kalliopeia, leader of the golden Muses, And you too, wise initiator into the mysteries, Apollo, Son of Leto, be at hand, blessing me. Tommy Be: Remo Bodhran Tadeu Mascarenhas: Synth Layne Redmond: Remo Tar, Spoken Word Vicki Richards: Violin Laurel Masse´: Vocals Greek Chorus: Stalo Hadjipieri, Meli Michaelidou, Ianthi Sparsis IV – The Final Delphic Oracle – 7:29 The Delphic sanctuary, whose origins date to prehistoric times and the worship of the Great Goddess, Gaia, was the site of the most famous Greek oracle. The Pythia was the title of the priestess who functioned as the medium through which Apollo spoke. This important position was filled by a series of women from at least 1400 BCE to CE 393, and exerted considerable influence throughout the Greek world. The most well known of the Pythia’s sayings was Know Thyself. In 389 CE the Roman Emperor Theodosius I ordered all pagan temples destroyed and closed. The last Pythia declared to the Emperor in 393 CE: Go tell the king the temple has fallen to pieces. Apollo dwells here no more. There is no more oracular laurel. No talking spring. And the voice of the water has been silenced. All is finished. Tommy Be: Remo Kanjira Eduardo Mota: Pandeiro, Clave Layne Redmond: Pandeiro, Spoken Word Vicki Richards: Violin Greek Chorus: Katerina Attalidou, Kalliopi Christophorou, Stalo Hadjipieri, Marina Mouyiasi, Ianthi Sparsis V – The Call – 13:56 The calling of some of Aphrodite’s ancient epithets: Akidalia, Akraia, Alilat, Amathousia, Ambologera, Anadyomene, Antheia, Apatouria, Aphakitis, Apotrophia, Arakunthia, Areia, Argynnis, Kallipugos, Knidia, Kolias, Kyprogeneia, Kuthereia, Despoina, Dionysia, Erukiane, Gamelia, Genetullia, Hekaerge, Idalia, Limeniatis, Mekhanitis, Melainis, Melinaea, Migonitis, Morpho, Nikephoros, Pandemos, Paphia, Peitho, Syria Dea, Ourania, Zephuritis, Zerynthia Steve Gorn: Bansuri Flute Everton Isidoro: Pandeiro Moises Lama: Bells Alex Mesquita: Electric Guitar Eduardo Mota: Tambourim Ubaldo Oliveira: Pandeiro Layne Redmond: Remo Tar Vicki Richards: Violin Paulo Silva: Surdo Greek Chorus: Christiana Megalemou, Marina Mouyiasi, Ianthi Sparsis VI – Ocean of Beauty – 6:20 A fragment of a Sappho poem: You may not remember but someone in some future time, will. Everton Isidoro: Pandeiro, Hand Claps Tadeu Mascarenhas: Synth, Synth Bass Eduardo Mota: Berimbau, Hand Claps Layne Redmond: Remo Tar, Spoken Word, Hand Claps Mariella Santiago: Vocals and Vocal Arrangements Greek Chorus: Katerina Attalidou, Kalliopi Christophorou, Stalo Hadjipieri, Marina Mouyiasi, Ianthi Sparsis A Layne Redmond Project Arrangments by Tadeu Mascarenhas and Layne Redmond Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Tadeu Mascarenhas At Casa Das Maquinas, Salvador, Brasil Produced by Layne Redmond Graphic Design: Nathanael Ross Ells Special thanks to Warren Ells for his design expertise. Photograph of Layne Redmond: Marcio Guimarães Special thanks to Ianthi Sparsis for her preparation of the ancient Greek texts for chanting. All Rights Reserved Layne Redmond Golden Seed Productions, 4 Tarpon Ave, Asheville, NC 28806 For more info on the ancient texts, composers and musicians, please visit: www.LayneRedmond.com