DESCRIPTION:
Remarkably haunting rendition of DW Myatt's translation. The gentle aura, measured pace transports you to Old Greece and the oracular Mysteries. Sound effects and music (including piano and strings) are subtle, tantalising. The voice, clear, sonorous, beautiful, yearning. Sublimely evocative of female love and unadorned beauty of Sappho's Greek.

Composed and performed by Richard Moult, Sister Lianna, and Wulfran Hall.
Translated by David Myatt
Artwork by Richard Moult

Fragment 16

For some -- it is horsemen; for others -- it is infantry;
For some others -- it is ships which are, on this black earth,
Visibly constant in their beauty. But for me,
It is that which you desire.

To all, it is easy to make this completely understood
For Helen -- she who greatly surpassed other mortals in beauty -
Left her most noble man and sailed forth to Troy
Forgetting her beloved parents and her daughter
Because [ the goddess ] led her away ....

Which makes me to see again Anactoria now far distant:
For I would rather behold her pleasing, graceful movement
And the radiant splendour of her face
Than your Lydian chariots and foot-soldiers in full armour ....

Fragment 22

Gather your [ lyre ] and sing for me
[ Soon ]
As desire once again [ enhances ] your beauty:

Your dress excites, and I rejoice
For I once doubted Aphrodite
But now have asked that soon
You will be with me again ....

Fragment 94

I can reveal to you that I wished to die -
For with much weeping she left me
Saying: "Sappho -- what suffering is ours!
For it is against my will that I leave you."
In answer, I said: "Go, happily remembering me
For you know what we shared and pursued -
If not, I wish you to see again our [ former joys ] .....
The many braids of rose and violet you [ wreathed ]
Around yourself at my side
And the many garlands of flowers
With which you adorned your soft neck:
With royal oils from [ fresh flowers ]
You anointed [ yourself ]
And on soft beds fulfilled your longing
[ For me ] ....

Fragment 47

Love shook my heart
Like the mountain wind
Falls upon trees of oak ....

D. W. Myatt translation:
http://classicpersuasion.org/pw/sappho/sappmyatt.htm

MP3 Format:
http://www.mediafire.com/?e1hljm0wl4h