OSMANTAKA

Excerpts from folk songs of the Klephtai referring to the region of Dervenia and to Georgios Karaiskakis, phrases in Arvanitika preserved through local historical and folklore research, excerpt from G. Karaiskakis’ letter to Th. Kolokotronis, excerpt from C. Paparrigopoulos’ History of the Hellenic Nation, excerpt from D. Savvopoulos’ Ode to Georgios Karaiskakis and an orchestral version of Osmantaka (Samantaka), a men’s improvised dance performed in the wider region of Epirus and Albania, associated with the Arvanite Osman Takës who, when sentenced to death, asked as a last wish prior to his execution to dance, and his gallant dance moved the Bey of Margariti so much that he spared him his life in the end. Finally, an excerpt from the national anthem of Ukraine, as performed by the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin on March 1, 2022.