Manos Hatzidakis
Manos Hatzidakis (October 23, 1925 – June 15, 1994) was a Greek composer and theorist of Greek music. He was also one of the main movers of the "Éntekhno" song (along with Mikis Theodorakis).
Was born on 23 October 1925 in Xanthi, Greece. His musical education began at the age of fourteen, he learned to play piano, violin and accordion.
He studied philosophy at the University of Athens. However, he never completed this course. During this period, he met and connected with other musicians, writers and intellectuals. Among these were Nikos Gatsos, George Seferis, Odysseas Elytis, Angelos Sikelianos and the artist Yannis Tsarouchis.
His very first work was the tune for the song "Paper Moon" ("Chartino to Feggaraki"), from Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire staged by Karolos Koun's Art Theatre of Athens, a collaboration which continued for 15 years.
In 1949 he co-founded the Greek Dance Theatre Company with the choreographer Rallou Manou.
In 1959, Hatzidakis met Nana Mouskouri, his first "ideal interpreter", a skilled vocalist who shaped the sounds of his music. It was 1960 that brought him international success, as his song "Never on Sunday" ("Ta paidia tou Peiraia"), from Jules Dassin's film Never on Sunday (“Pote tin Kyriaki”), won him an Academy Award and became a worldwide hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDgZEbvPpQ
Χάρτινο το Φεγγαράκι
Tha feri i thalassa poulia
ki astra chrysa t’ ageri
na sou chaideuoun ta mallia
na sou filoun to cheri.
Chartino to feggaraki
pseutiki akrogialia
an me pisteues ligaki
tha ’san ola alithina.
Dichos ti diki sou agapi
diskola perna o keros
dichos ti diki sou agapi
ine o kosmos pio mikros.
Chartino to feggaraki
pseutiki akrogialia
an me pisteues ligaki
tha ’san ola alithina.
In 1965, his LP Gioconda’s Smile (Το Χαμόγελο της Τζιοκόντας) was released on Minos-EMI.
Two years later, in 1966, he travelled to New York City for the premiere of Illya Darling, a Broadway musical based on Never on Sunday.
He did not actually return to Greece until 1972 due to his opposition to Greece's military dictatorship.
Following the junta’s overthrow, he became active in public life and assumed a number of positions in the Athens State Orchestra (KOA), the National Opera (ELS), and the National Radio (ERT).
In 1985 he launched his own record company "Seirios" (Sirius), while in 1989 he founded and directed the Orchestra of Colours (Orchestra ton Chromaton), a small symphonic orchestra.
He died on 15 June 1994 in Athens at the age of 68, from acute pulmonary edema.
In 1999 the City of Athens dedicated Technopolis in his memory. He was buried in Paiania.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEEwb2qV-uc
Piraeus children (Ta paidia-tou-Peiraia)
From my window, I send off
one, two and three and four kisses
that reach the harbour
(as though) one and two and three and four birds
how I wished I had
one and two and three and four children
once they would all grow up
to become "dashing" lads, for Piraeus's sake
no matter how I search, I cannot find another harbour
to make me "wild" over, as much as the Piraeus
where, as soon as night falls, (it) pours out "songs" for me
and its "pen-sketches" changes, gets filled up with children
as soon as I walk out my door
there's noone I would not "love"
and as I go to sleep at night
I know that, I know that I will be dreaming of him (/her)
gems, on the neck I set
and a bead (as a) charm
for at night I await, as I go out to the harbour
a certain "stranger" to find
no matter how I search ..