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Old Songs

Mark Jickling, Chris Mason, and Liz Downing translate Archaic
Greek poems (7 - 4th Century B.C.) and put them to music.

Alcaeus

  1. Castor and Polydeux (34) (2:01): MP3
  2. Dog Star (347) (1:51): MP3
  3. Miserable (130b) (2:23): MP3
  4. Drinking Party (70) (2:57): MP3
  5. People of Lesbos (129) (2:43): MP3
  6. Black Boat (208) (1:53): MP3
  7. River Hebrus (45) (2:01): MP3
  8. Dog Star 2 (347) (1:49): MP3
  9. Miserable 2 (130b) (2:02): MP3
  10. People Of Lesbos 2 (129) (2:39): MP3

Elizabeth Downing, voice, banjo; Mark Jickling, voice, guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass; Chris Mason, voice, guitar; Don Peyton, ukulele, Ian Jickling, guitar (tr. 1); Terence Winch, button accordion, (tr. 7) Recorded by Mark Jickling 2016. Translations by Jickling and Mason. Tunes by Downing, Jickling, and Mason. Numbers in parentheses after song titles are numbers of fragments in Loeb Classical Library: Greek Lyric Vol 1., ed. D. Campbell, 1982.


Bright Lyre Becomes Voice: Sappho Versions

  1. Come To Me From Crete (2) (3:08): MP3
  2. Evening Star (104a) (2:07): MP3
  3. Truly I Wish To Die (94) (3:11): MP3
  4. Love Shook My Heart (47) (2:13): MP3
  5. He Seems Like A God To Me (31) (2:03): MP3
  6. Doorkeeper (110) (1:01): MP3
  7. Immortal Aphrodite (1) (3:31): MP3
  8. Dika (81) (1:23): MP3
  9. Beautiful Ones (41) (3:07): MP3
  10. Mnasidika (82a) (1:09): MP3
  11. Tithonus (58) (2:09): MP3
  12. Beautiful Daughter (132) (2:55): MP3
  13. Hearts Turned Cold (42) (2:15): MP3
  14. O Master (95) (2:57): MP3
  15. Sweet Red Apple (105a) (2:13): MP3
  16. Hyacinth (105b) (1:55): MP3
  17. Hector and Andromache (44) (3:23): MP3
  18. Someone I Say (147) (1:29): MP3
  19. The Moon Has Set (168b) (1:52): MP3

Elizabeth Downing, voice; Mark Jickling, voice, guitar, banjo, mandolin; Chris Mason, voice, guitar. With: Rebby Sharp (fiddle, tr. 1,6,7,17, mandolin, tr. 11, guitar, tr. 6, 12, 14); Rick Dreyfuss, (perc., tr. 4,13); Charles Brohawn, (perc. tr. 4, slide, tr. 13); Nathan Bell, (banjo, tr. 3, 15); David Fair, (perc. Tr. 4, 13); Lauren Weiner (guitar, tr. 18). Translations by Jickling and Mason, Tunes by Downing, Jickling and Mason. Recorded by Mark Chello, 2008. Numbers in parentheses after song titles are numbers of fragments in Loeb Classical Library, Greek Lyric Vol 1.ed. D. Campbell, 1982.

Alcman: Land Of A Thousand Beautiful Dances

  1. God Made 3 Seasons (20) (1:35): MP3
  2. She’s Dancing (4c) (1:46): MP3
  3. Megalostrata 1 (59) (1:32): MP3
  4. Diving Women (test. 1) (1:13): MP3
  5. Kingfisher (26) (2:18): MP3
  6. 3-legged pot (17) (1:26): MP3
  7. Gallingale (58) (1:26): MP3
  8. The Girls Scattered (1:18): MP3
  9. Leukotheia (4a) (1:46): MP3
  10. Cyprus and Paphos (55) (1:53): MP3
  11. All-Talk (1:53): MP3
  12. Swan Beats Her Wings (12b) (1:25): MP3
  13. Partridge Song (39) (1:38): MP3
  14. Louvre Partheneion (1) (6:11): MP3
  15. Draw The Bow (53 & 170) (1:16): MP3
  16. Rhipas Mountain (90) (0:53): MP3
  17. Megalostrata 2 (59) (1:38): MP3
  18. Great Loaf Of Cheese (56) (2:52): MP3
  19. Muse Calliope (27) (1:11): MP3
  20. Partridge Song 2 (39) (1:34): MP3
  21. Wrecking God (116) (1:13): MP3
  22. Guitar Well-played (41) (1:19): MP3
  23. Gallingale 2 (58) (1:52): MP3
  24. Great Loaf Of Cheese 2 (56) (2:08): MP3
  25. Asleep (89) (0:55): MP3
  26. Kingfisher 2 (26) (2:20): MP3
  27. Astymeloisa (3) (1:38): MP3
  28. Louvre Partheneion 2 (1) (4:07): MP3
  29. Strike The Lyre (140) (1:09): MP3

Elizabeth Downing, voice; Mark Jickling, voice, guitar, banjo, mandolin; Chris Mason, voice, guitar. With: Rebby Sharp, fiddle, mandolin, guitar (tr. 1 – 15 and 28); David Fair, voice (16-20); Anne Watts, accordion, (tr. 16, 25-27); Gryphon Corpus voice (23,24); Girls Chorus of Annatruus Bakker, Elizabeth Mason, Hannah Stahl, Lucy Stahl, Emmalee Thompson (25-27). Recorded 2002-2005 by John Chriest, Jamie Wilson, and Mark Jickling. Translations by Jickling and Mason, Tunes by Downing, Jickling and Mason. Numbers in parentheses after song titles are Numbers of fragments in Loeb Classical Library, Greek Lyric Vol 2, ed. D. Campbell, 1982.


Callimachus, Song from the Great Library

Liz Downing, Mark Jickling, and Chris Mason. Recorded in 2022. Cover design by Liz Downing.

  1. Speeding Horse (1:55): MP3
  2. Mousetrap (2:48): MP3
  3. Soft Amber Ointment (3:10): MP3
  4. Old Woman Now Dust (2:18): MP3
  5. Lock of Berenice (3:19): MP3
  6. Heraclitus (1:24): MP3
  7. Wolf God Appollo (2:12): MP3
  8. Voices Of The Creatures (2:25): MP3
  9. Sweet Helpmate (2:26): MP3
  10. Branchus (1:59): MP3
  11. The Crow Song (1:46): MP3
  12. Hymn To Apollo (5:31): MP3
  13. Golden Cup (2:49): MP3
  14. Little Ballad Of Artemis (2:03): MP3
  15. Long Nerve (2:40): MP3
  16. Akontius And Kudippe (1:44): MP3
  17. Half-Wit (2:48): MP3
  18. Hymn To Artemis (7:50): MP3
  19. Shipwrecked Stranger (1:59): MP3
  20. Hymn To Zeus (3:14): MP3

Corinna of Tanagra, approximately 522–443 BC

Liz Downing, Mark Jickling, Chris Mason, plus Rebby Sharp and Ian Jickling. Recorded in quarantine, 2020, Washington, Baltimore, Waynesboro. Mastering by Don Zientaraa, Inner Ear Studio. Cover painting by Liz Downing. Cover design by David Fair.

  1. Thespia (674) (2:21): MP3
  2. Corinna Says (668) (1:01): MP3
  3. Wishing Meditation (660) (4:07): MP3
  4. The Singing Contest (654) (2:17): MP3
  5. Euripus (693) (2:07): MP3
  6. Hermes Fights With Ares (666) (3:30): MP3
  7. And You Us Two (661) (2:19): MP3
  8. Oh Corinna (657) (1:28): MP3
  9. Dawn Leaving Ocean (690b) (1:47): MP3
  10. Terpsichore (655) (1:56): MP3
  11. His Own Hands (690) (1:47): MP3
  12. Myrtis (664) (1:40): MP3
  13. Hyria (669) (1:08): MP3
  14. Daughters of Aesopus (654) (4:11): MP3
  15. In Calm Weather (692) (1:39): MP3
  16. Proud Orion (662) (1:14): MP3
  17. Let Them Hear (678) (1:29): MP3

Many Sapphos

Mark Jickling and Chris Mason. With Liz Boniface, Cindy Brohawn, Heather Dodge, Katherine Fahey, Eva Hendrix, Jennifer Keith, and Chris Ciattei. Thanks to Graham Dodge, Lucy Mulqueen, Jennifer Potter, and Liz Downing. Released June 26, 2024.

  1. Desire's (2:13): MP3
  2. Cretan Women (1:40): MP3
  3. Gold Songs (2:06): MP3
  4. Kypris (2:05): MP3
  5. On The Eyes (1:38): MP3
  6. Lamentation (2:26): MP3
  7. Almost Day (1:21): MP3
  8. Sing Sisters (2:06): MP3
  9. Wedding Party (2:55): MP3
  10. Not Right (1:26): MP3
  11. Mika (2:18): MP3
  12. Farm Girl (0:56): MP3
  13. Uncrowned (2:05): MP3
  14. Dissing (1:23): MP3
  15. Some Man (1:02): MP3
  16. Barking (1:13): MP3
  17. Epithesma (1:53): MP3
  18. God Of Dreams (1:29): MP3
  19. Adonis (2:14): MP3
  20. Psaphi You (1:59): MP3
  21. I Do Not Think (1:10): MP3
  22. In A Dream (0:49): MP3
  23. When Sappho Sings (1:40): MP3

I. Alcman
1. Asleep (89) (1:03)
2. Kingfisher (26) (2:16)
3. God Made 3 Seasons (20) (1:33)
4. She’s Dancing (4c) (1:44)
5. Diving Women (1:10)
6. 3-legged Pot (17) (1:24)
7. Aphrodite It Isn’t (58) (1:24)
8. The Girls Scattered (82) (1:16)
9. Megalostrata (59 a&b) (1:30)
10. Leukotheia (4a) (1:44)
11. The Louvre Partheneion (1) (6:11)

Liz Downing: vocals and banjo
Rebby Sharp: fiddle
Mark Jickling: vocals, banjo, guitar, tunes,mandolin, and translations
Chris Mason: vocals, guitar, tunes, and translations
Recorded by John Chriest and Charlie Jamison at Mt. Royal Studio, 2005
Numbers in parentheses refer to Loeb Classics Edition

II. 19 Old Songs

  1. Evening Star (Sappho 104a) (1:36)
  2. Kingfisher (Alcman (26) (2:35)
  3. Hermes Give Me A Coat (Hipponax 32, 34, 36) (2:07)
  4. He Seems Like A God To Me (Sappho 31) (1:49)
  5. Neoboule (Archilochus 118 & 119) (1:42)
  6. Oh Sweet Mother (Sappho 102, 130) (2:13)
  7. Up In Smoke (Crates 14) (1:08)
  8. Sappho Sweet Smiling (Alcaeus 384) (0:43)
  9. Sappho Fragments (Sappho 134, 136, 137) (1:37)
  10. Peace (Bacchylides 7) (1:45)
  11. Anaktoria (Sappho 16) (2:11)
  12. Fast Ship (Solon 19) (1:34)
  13. Little Perseus (Simonides 543) (2:04)
  14. The Sun Works Hard (Mimnermus 10) (1:30)
  15. Wondrous Adonis (Praxilla 747) (1:17)
  16. Dragged Feet First (Crates 13) (2:02)
  17. The Philosopher's Way (Xenophanes 6) (1:45)
  18. Muse Reject The War (Stesichorus 210 & 212) (3:50)
  19. You Draw The Bow Oh Artemis (Alcman 63, 170) (1:19)

Liz Downing: vocals and banjo
Rebby Sharp: fiddle
Mark Jickling: vocals, banjo, guitar, mandolin, tunes, and translations
Chris Mason: vocals, guitar, tunes, translations.
Allen Thrasher: flute
Jamie Wilson: percussion
Paul Jickling: guitar
Anne Watts: accordion
David Fair: vocals
Pam Kraemer: vocals
Elizabeth Mason, Annatruus Bakker,
Lucy Stahl and Hannah Stahl: girls' chorus vocals
Recorded by Jamie Wilson, 2002-2003
Numbers in parentheses refer to Loeb Classics Edition

III. Honey Nor Bee
(Sappho Fragments in Greek & English)
  1. Come Muses Again (127) (1:04)
  2. I Loved You (49) (1:10)
  3. Mnasidika (82a) (1:06)
  4. Oh Sweet Mother (102) (0:58)
  5. Don't Know What To Do (51) (1:26)
  6. The Stars (34) (1:56)
  7. He Is Dying (140) (0:52)
  8. Athi (131) (0:51)
  9. Leto and Niobe (142) (0:58)
  10. Eyes (151) (1:23)
  11. I Have A Beautiful Daughter (132) (0:46)
  12. Evening Star (104a) (1:19)
  13. Neither For Me (146) (0:52)

Liz Downing: English vocals
Chris Mason: Greek vocals, guitar, tunes, translations
Recorded by Jamie Wilson, 2004
Numbers in parentheses refer to Loeb Classics Edition

IV. Hipponax
  1. Listen To Hipponax (1) (1:25)
  2. Hermes Gimme A Coat (32, 34, 36) (2:04)
  3. Kikon (4/4a) (1:41)
  4. Rich and Lazy (26/26a) (1:36)
  5. Chatters and Chokes (102) (1:18)
  6. Scapegoat Fragments (6,9,20) (2:01)
  7. Dog Strangler (3) (1:58)
  8. Idiot Judge (154) (1:47)
  9. Blood and Bile (73) (1:29)
  10. Crooked Dice (129a) (0:38)
  11. Smyrna Road (42) (1:58)
  12. Father Zeus (38) (0:26)
  13. Salmydessus (115) (1:59)
  14. Alibas (134) (0:32)
  15. Back of Town (50) (1:57)
  16. Medicate (39) (1:23)
  17. Arete and Bupalus (12 - 17) (1:55)
  18. Blissful Hermes (177) (2:07)

Mark Jickling: vocals, banjo, guitar, mandolin, tunes, and translations
Chris Mason: vocals, guitar, tunes, translations
With David Fair and Liz Downing: vocals
Paul Jickling: guitar, Jamie Wilson: drums,
Lucy Jickling: Celtic Harp, Rebby Sharp, fiddle,
Anne Watts: accordion
Recorded mostly at home, 2004
Numbers in parentheses refer to Loeb Classics Edition


© 2024 Chris Mason and Mark Jiclking. These recordings availalbe for non-commercial and educational use only. Distributed with permission of the artists by PennSound.