Re: Morenica

[Owen Davidson <owend...>]

Mavra matia are dark ("black") eyes, like ochi chornya.  Blue eyes are
galana matia. A dark-eyed girl is usually called "mavromata mou" in songs:
not "my dark eyes," but "my dark-eyed one."  Sorry to nit-pick.

Owen



"Judith R. Cohen" wrote:

> I don't know the actual origins of the song, but the Parvarim translated
> it, along with others, I believe, from Judeo-Spanish to Hebrew, It's
> been recorded since the early 20th century from among Sephardim in
> Salonica and is probably from a Greek song, with the expression
> "mavramatia mou" (blue eyes) in most Judeo-Spanish versions. The
> documentary versions are not as even and regular as the "shekhakhoret"
> arrangement. But other people probably know more. Judith
>

--
Owen Davidson
Amherst  Mass
The Wholesale Klezmer Band

The Angel that presided o'er my birth
Said Little creature formd of Joy and Mirth
Go Love without the help of any King on Earth

Wm. Blake


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