CYPRIOT ACADEMY

[The Cypriot]

Nice one, GR! Has anyone ever told you, ise chakos!

[The Cypriot]

Here it is.... a year in the making


‘The Cypriot collection’
The Cypriot Academy, in association with Greek City, is proud to present ‘The Cypriot collection’, a CD of the traditional songs of Cyprus recorded in English. A number of songs already feature in acclaimed novel ‘The Cypriot’, which was also supported by the Cypriot Academy.

The songs in ‘The Cypriot collection’ were originally sung on the island in both of the main language varieties of Cyprus: Gibreiga, rooted in ancient Greek, and Gibrizlija, introduced by the Ottomans. The lyrics have been carefully translated into English by the Cypriot Academy to make the songs accessible to a wider international audience.

A fresh musical interpretation is provided by renowned Cypriot composer Harry K and the songs are performed by a range of talented young UK Cypriot singers.

Funding support for ‘The Cypriot collection’ has been kindly provided by National Lottery Awards For All.

Short audio extracts of the 10 songs that feature on the CD are provided here...

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

[The Cypriot]

Just a month following release and the ground-breaking CD 'The Cypriot Collection' – featuring the traditional songs of Cyprus performed in English – has three songs in the LGR top 10, including chart topper Tilliria, performed by Stevie Violaris and Manolis HajiManoli.

The success is made even more striking as Tilliria is actually translated from the original 'Gibrizlija' – a Cypriot language variety first introduced to the island by the Ottomans. This track, together with three other updated classics, "He can have it all", sung by Caroline Katsoudes, "Chakara makara" sung by Katerina Neocleous and "Limassol" sung by Kyriacos Georgiou, were performed live earlier in the year at the Millfield Theatre in Enfield, north London, to rapturous applause from an audience of hundreds of UK Cypriots. Now even Radio London is airing songs on their World Music programme on Saturday nights.

But it's not just in the UK that the CD is wowing Cypriots. Songs from the album are also receiving unprecedented airplay on the island itself, with another track "Money" the most requested song on Radio Antenna.

"The response to the CD has exceeded all expectations. I'm not sure even the Beatles had three songs in the top 10!" enthused a spokesperson for the Cypriot Academy, the cultural organisation that produced the CD with funding from the UK National Lottery. "It's wonderful to see Cypriots taking such pride in their distinct and shared cultural heritage."

The CD has been produced in association with Greek City (greekcity.co.uk) from whom copies can be purchased. The CD is also available on Amazon. A fresh musical interpretation is provided by renowned Cypriot composer Harry K and the songs are performed by a range of talented young UK Cypriot singers.

Short audio extracts of the songs featured on the CD are available from:

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