Lyrics:
"MESSENGER:
Oh, fearful sight, when Vengeance takes its course
And Justice wields its sharp, unyielding force.
May all who see remember this dark day,
Where love and hate in equal measure lay!

Oh, hear me now, you gathered souls; attend!
For, dark and dire news I now must bring.
On Cithaeron’s low slopes, a tragic end
Dirce has met, by Fate’s relentless swing.

With hands of wrath and hearts resolved in rage,
their grievous toll Amphion and Zethus took.
They bound her fast —their fury none could gauge—,
And led her to the bull with cruel control.

The beast, enraged, with fury in its eyes,
Did take her hence, and thundered through the glade.
With brutal force, her body met the stones
And oaks, as it reshaped by savage blows.

Her screams did pierce the heavens; her demise
A grim reminder of the debts now paid.
Her form, once fair, was battered, bruised, and torn
—a testament of Vengeance and her thorn.

The trees did shake, the birds took flight in fear,
As Dirce’s torment echoed far and near.
The sacred earth did drink her crimson flow,
While shadows danced upon her blood’s red glow.

Oh, cruel Fate, that such an end should be
For one so proud, brought low by destiny.
Her tale, a lesson —carved in blood and pain—
Of how the gods’ decree none can disdain.

Thus, Dirce’s end —a tale of sorrow deep—
Shall haunt the hearts of those who dare to weep.
Remember well the price that wrath can claim;
For, in her death, we see our own dark shame."

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). The lyrics used are taken from the Chorus' Ode 3, combined with parts of the Messenger's speech in Act 4, describing Dirce's murder by Amphion and Zethus.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

Antiope

"Antiope" - Dirce's End

"Antiope" - Dirce's Fate

Lyrics:
"BACCHANTS' CHORUS:
Oh, Bacchus, mighty lord of vine and song,
Your vengeance shall be swift, your justice strong!
For, those who dare to taint your sacred ground
Shall meet their end, in shadows dark, and bound!

With madness, they have turned the world askew;
But, you shall right the wrongs, with power true.
In frenzied night, your wrath shall be revealed;
And, those who sinned against you shall be kneeled."

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). A part of the 3rd Choral Ode. A choral reply of the Chorus of the Bacchants (followers of the god Dionysus and servants of Dirce) to the Chorus of the Athenians, while Amphion and Zethus drag Dirce by her hair, ready to deliver her to her final fate.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - The Bacchants' Weeping Song

"Antiope" - The Bacchants' Lament

Lyrics:
"AMPHION:
Of Ether, Gaia —mother of all—, I sing;
Their boundless gifts —to which our spirits cling.
Oh Time, oh breath of gods, oh love for song!
In your eternal dance, we all belong!

From Chaos sprung the Cosmos, in its might;
The stars did form; brought light to darkest night.
The gods rejoice, while praises fill the skies;
In hymns of glory, all creation lies.

From Hermes’ hands, a wondrous gift did spring:
A lyre to soothe, and joy to mortals bring.
Once, he stole Apollo’s sacred cattle,
And in his cleverness, parried battle.

He crafted then this lyre from tortoise shell,
To mend the rift, in Apollo’s heart to dwell.
With every note, the fields and groves rejoice,
And nature dances to its tuneful voice.

Lyre of mine, your strings as beams of light;
In joyful melodies, forever bright.
For, in your tunes, the power to unite
And guide us through the darkness of the night.

For Dionysus borne are laurel wreaths.
Goblets of wine and golden fruits bequeath.
In revelry, we dance with eager feet.
Oh, Athens’ youth, come join this joyful beat!

Lyre, do echo; voice, do pierce the air,
Guiding our melodies, tender and fair.
Beneath your song, the gods themselves do prance;
In joyous splendor blessed, in night’s advance."

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play).  A part of the Entrance Choral Ode. Amphion enters the scene with his lyre, accompanied by a chorus of Athenian herdsmen. In the book, parts of these verses belong to the Chorus.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - Oh, Lyre of Mine

Lyrics:
"DIONYSUS:
For justice wrought your sons did strive;
Yet, sorrow now must stay alive.
In Dirce’s name, the stream shall flow
—her legacy through ages grow.

For Dirce’s end, Antíope,
You too shall suffer, by my will.
Though sons protest in your defense,
The gods’ decrees your fate fulfill.

Divine reprisal must be met;
For, blood was shed —a heavy debt.
Your sons’ dark deed shall not go free;
Their hands are stained by Fate’s decree.

ANTIOPE:
Oh, cruel Fate, what have I done
To warrant such a harsh decree?
A mother spent, a hunted one,
In agony, I cease to be!

My sons, my heart, my every breath,
Must bear the weight of gods’ demand.
In sorrow’s grip, I face my death
—while shadows claim my broken hand.

Dionysus, oh, hear my plea
For mercy’s touch upon my brow
—in madness deep, I beg of thee!
The path of life I forsake now!

Oh, sons of mine  —in duty bound—,
Abide now by this divine will.
Through justice false  —in shadows found—
Your mother’s cries shall haunt you still.

In Frenzy’s realm I shall descend
—my soul consumed by endless night.
Yet, may my heart, in time, amend
—and find, in dark, the strength to fight.

Oh, gods above, my future’s sealed:
In Madness, shadows take their toll.
My mind undone, my fate revealed:
In sorrow’s depths, I lose my soul!"

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). A part of Act 5, depicting Dionysus' punishment on Antiope for the cruel murder of Dirce by her sons, Amphion and Zethus.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - Antiope's Frenzy

"Antiope" - Antiope's Madness

Lyrics:
"DIONYSUS & CHORUS:
Oh, Dirce dear, your life’s now spent
By hands of those who sought their due.
In sacred spring, your blood is lent;
And thus, I honor you anew.

This stream shall bear your name so bright
—in memory of faithful deeds.
For, in your death I find the light
To spread my worship, as it needs.

Your fervent zeal, your loyal heart,
did aid my cause, from very start;
Through rites and revels, wild and free,
You made all Greeks to worship me.

In fields and groves, where my name spread,
Your hand did guide, your voice had led.
With ivy crowned and thyrsus high,
Your faith ensured my cult would thrive.

In grief I stand, though godly might
—for, even gods do mourn the night.
Yet, dignity must hold its sway
—as, tears of gods in shadows lay!"

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). A part of Act 5, depicting Dionysus' lament for his beloved Dirce; right before Dionysus' punishment on Antiope for the cruel murder of Dirce by her sons, Amphion and Zethus.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

The vocals of this track are a soft-sounding blend between eastern and western music metric systems and music scales; thus, honoring the dispersing of the worship of the ever-living Dionysus himself in all of these lands.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - Dirce's Legacy

Lyrics:
"HERMES:
Hold, sons of Thebes, your wrath restrain!
For, Justice tempered by the gods
Must not be marred by mortal stain
—nor vengeance blind by darkened odds.

By Zeus’s will, I come to you,
To halt this tide of blood and hate.
For, in your hands, a power true
—to rule and guide the city’s fate.

You brothers strong, now kings decree
—to lead this land with wisdom’s light.
In harmony, let Thebes be free,
And steer her clear from endless night.

ZETHUS:
Great Hermes, messenger divine,
What word do you from Zeus convey?
Injustice marked; and vengeance mine
Shall now be stayed, if you do say.

HERMES:
Amphion, Zethus, hear my voice:
You shall be kings of Theban land,
Until the heir of age; rejoice,
And take the throne by fated hand!

Know too, that Zeus has sired you both;
His lineage, your noble birth.
Now, build a city by your oath,
With seven gates to guard its worth.

Near Ismenus, do let it rise
—a fortress strong, to touch the skies.
Amphion, with your lyre’s sweet sound,
You shall lift rocks from earthly ground.

Zethus, a Theban bride awaits
—to share your throne and weave your fate.
And, Amphion, too, from Phrygia’s gates,
Tantalus’ daughter seals your state.

Construct with care, with love and might
This city strong, against the night.
Your future's bright, though shadows play;
Together, you shall light the way.

Yet, heed my words: a shadow lies
Upon this throne, from ages past.
The curse of Cadmus never dies;
Its haunting grip, it holds so fast.

HERMES & CHORUS:
For, by the veins of Cadmus’ blood,
A darkness lurks —a fated doom.
Beware the tides of sorrow’s flood,
And guard your hearts from future gloom."

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). A part of Act 5, right before Dionysus' appearance on the stage. Hermes appears, in order to prevent Amphion and Zethus from killing king Lycus.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - Hermes' Message

"Antiope" - Hermes' Decree

Lyrics:
AMPHION & CHORUS:
City of Thèbes, of ancient lore,
Where Cadmus laid foundation stone,
Now rise anew, in gods’ galore!
By Amphion’s song, your strength is shown.

With lyre’s sweet notes, the rocks ascend;
In harmony, they all take flight.
Seven gates to guard and defend
—against the dark, to bring the light.

Your future's bright, with justice clear;
The sons of Thèbes shall reign in peace.
No tyrant’s rule, no hand of fear!
For, wisdom’s guide shall never cease.

Oh, blessed Thèbes, your glory stands
In odes and chants, in hearts of men.
With Amphion’s lyre and guiding hands,
Your legacy shall rise again.

With every chord, the stones take flight,
To build a city strong and bright.
Oh, Thèbes, may peace within you reign,
And never face dark strife again.

In every wall, in every gate,
The hopes of Thèbes shall resonate.
A future forged by song and might,
Where Justice shines with purest light.

For, in these walls, our legacy
—a testament to harmony,
With lyre’s song and hearts so true—,
Beloved Thèbes, we now renew.

Thus, ends the tale of sorrow’s depth;
And, in the balance, Justice sways.
For, in the hands of Fate, adept
The future holds our brightest days.

May wisdom guide our hearts and minds,
And lead us through the darkest night.
For, in the path that Justice finds,
We walk in truth and find the light.

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). The Exit Choral Ode.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - Chorus' Exit Ode

"Antiope" - Echoes of Fate: The Chorus' Farewell

Lyrics:
LYCUS [trembling]:
Traitorous fiends, who dared to take her life,
And hide Antíope’s remains in shame!
Come forth, and face the justice you have earned;
For, none shall save you from approaching bane.

AMPHION:
[ Leaping from the shadows, and disarming Lycus: ]
Now, Lycus, face the justice of the gods;
For, you will meet the end your deeds demand.
By toil and peril, by all-sacred odds,
Your reign of terror now shall end, in blood.

ZETHUS:
[ Joining his brother, and grasping Lycus: ]
For mother’s pain and all your cruel misdeeds,
We‘ll strike you down and end your vicious reign.
The price of tyranny your heart will bleed;
And, by our hands, you shall be justly slain.

LYCUS:
What madness dares to turn my fate to doom?
You sons of wrath, do you know whom you‘ll strike?
This treachery shall bring the darkest gloom:
Upon your heads, the gods shall bring the pike.

AMPHION:
No Madness strikes, but Justice long delayed
—for years you did inflict of suffering.
Our mother’s tears shall now be fully paid;
And, by our hands, your death shall now be writ.

It was your wife, Dirce, who did oppress,
With cruelty unbound, her every breath.
We took her life —her blood a harsh redress;
For all the pain she dealt, we gave her death.

ZETHUS [ his sword over Lycus’ head ]:
No words; for, action truly must now speak.
The time for Justice is at hand, so near.
In shadows deep, your soul shall find its peak;
And, from this life, you shall now disappear!

Your Dirce met her end, by righteous wrath:
We bound her hair to bull’s wild, frenzied horns.
Her screams were drowned within the bloodied path;
For, she was source of endless, cruel scorns.

LYCUS [ Desperate and broken ]:
What horrors have you wrought upon my kin?
My heart now shatters —grief, beyond all bounds—,
To hear my Dirce’s slain, her blood runs thin!
My soul, in anguish deep; no solace found!

Her laughter bright, her eyes that shone with fire,
Now lost forever —taken by your hand!
Oh, how I mourn my fate within this mire
—to join her shade in Hade’s shadowland!

Oh, wretched fate, to lose her to the night!
And now my life, to follow in her wake.
More I lament her death or this dark plight
—that drags me too to Hades’ realm, opaque?

ATHENIAN CHORUS:
—— Oh, spirits high, and Vengeance sought!
In darkness, Justice finds its way.
Through deeds of right and battles fought,
The gods above do watch and sway.

HERDSMAN:
Hold fast, you warriors of the night;
For, Lycus’ fate is sealed in stone.
His guards lie vanquished, cannot fight;
And, soon, his soul shall be alone.

LYCUS:
Mercy, I beg; for, life is dear!
Though deeds were dark, I now repent.
Release me from this fate so drear;
I swear, my ways I will  amend!

AMPHION:
No mercy for a heart so black;
For, in your deeds, no pity found.
The gods decree, and we‘ll attack.
Your fate is sealed beneath this ground.

ZETHUS:
In shadows deep, your final breath
Shall mark the end of tyranny.
For, Justice leads you now to death;
And, from this life, your soul shall flee.

From my book "Antiope" (a reconstruction of Euripides' tragedy "Antiope", in English verse, based on the surviving fragments of the play). Amphion and Zethus attack king Lycus, inside the cave in which they have entrapped him, right before the appearance of Hermes.

The book is freely available at:
https://shorturl.at/J2l1B
Soon to be available in Google Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and other retailers.

Produced with the help of AI. Remastered version.
Cover image generated with the help of DALL·E 3.

Copyright © 2024 Chris A. Tsirkas.

Related mythological context:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphion_and_Zethus

My public social profiles:
• independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
• www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
• https://youtube.com/@ChrisTsirkas

"Antiope" - The Fight In The Mire

"Antiope" - Justice of the Gods

Text from Lamento perduto di Agave by Guglielmo Bagella (Promethéus)

Virginia Guidi, voice
Caterina Ravenna, piano
Alice Romano, cello

Conservatorio di musica Santa Cecilia, Sala Accademia, Rome (ITA)

24th January 2025
Live recording

----------

The Bacchae is the last tragedy written by Euripides. Its written tradition leaves some gaps in the poetic text, the content of which can be partly reconstructed from the summaries of the tragedy made by commentators of antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Guglielmo Bagella, a young Italian poet, carries out a false restoration operation, where he reifies the ancient summaries and makes the gap in the Exodus poetic again. The result is a tense and desperate dialogue between the choir and Queen Agave, who, having recovered from the divine possession of Dionysus, discovers that she has murdered her son Pentheus.

Lamento di Agave (2024)

A software developer with a passion for ancient Greek literature, I'm exploring ancient lyric poetry, drama, philosophy, historiography and linguistics. Some of my influences include French operatic works of the 17th & 18th centuries, Shakespeare, Victorian poetry, the French symbolism movement and its impact on modern Greek poetry, and Greek poets like Mavilis, Palamas, Hatzopoulos, and Sikelianos.

  My first publication, Βελλεροφόντης ("Bellerophon"), an adaptation of the original work of N. J. Spyropoulos, reimagines the myth through Modern Greek verse.

  I have followed this with an edition of Euripides’ Βάκχες ("Bacchae"), providing the original text with a metrical translation and commentary, to make classical works accessible to contemporary readers.

  In the tragic domain, my work Μέδουσα ("Medusa") attempts to reconstruct an Attic tragedy in classical verse, capturing ancient dramatic traditions for modern audiences.

  My adaptation of Euripides' Ἀντιόπη ("Antiope") in English verse pieces together the fragmented play with poetic sensitivity, adding commentary, in order to deepen readers' understanding. A translation of this play in Greek has followed, in early 2025.

  My work, Tragedy - Logos, Rhythm and Psyche («Τραγωδία - Λόγος, Ρυθμός και Ψυχή»), explores the linguistic, rhythmic and psychological dimensions of attic Tragedy. Examining elements like metrics, language and choral odes, this book bridges ancient and modern worlds, with a nuanced look at the enduring power of Τragedy.

  In my ongoing exploration of the tragic form, I have also undertaken a bold and innovative project, bridging Eastern and Western theatrical traditions. My latest work, "The Veils of the Seven Skies", merges the structure and philosophical depth of Attic tragedy with the refined aesthetics of Chinese Opera, creating a unique synthesis of seemingly distant but profoundly resonant artistic worlds. Following the journey of Dionysus to the Celestial Court of ancient China, this play explores timeless questions about balance, tradition and transformation, through musicalized verse and detailed choreography. Through this poetic dialogue between cultures, I aim to illuminate universal themes which transcend geographical and temporal boundaries.

  In my Shakespearean drama "Morgana - A Tragedy in Five Acts," I have reimagined the Arthurian legend from the perspective of Arthur's sister, traditionally villainized in medieval tales. Drawing on both Elizabethan verse and Greek tragic structure, I portray Morgana as a priestess caught between ancient wisdom and Christian faith, revealing how Camelot's fall stemmed not from evil but from the failure to reconcile competing worldviews. The play examines how women of power are transformed into villains when their stories are written by those who fear them.

  In "King Starchidagoras - The Phallic Quest to the Underworld," I make a departure from Tragedy to Aristophanic Comedy. This ribald work follows an antihero king, who journeys to the Underworld to retrieve the "First Phallus" and save his city from Aphrodite's curse. Maintaining classical Greek comedy structure while incorporating modern sensibilities, this bawdy satire explores human weakness, political absurdity, and sexual politics, through unapologetically explicit humor and sharp social commentary.

  I'm inviting readers to a literary journey inspired by ancient Greek themes, and I also experiment with symphonic metal and other modern music genres, blending the intensity of Attic tragedy with modern music, through AI-composed tracks which unite ancient tradition with today’s dynamic sounds.

Public social profiles:
    • https://zenodo.org/search?q=metadata.creators.person_or_org.name%3A%22Tsirkas%2C%20Chris%22&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=bestmatch
    • https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19154997.Chris_Tsirkas
    • https://independent.academia.edu/ChrisTsirkas
    • https://openbook.gr/tag/christos-a-tsirkas
    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctsir/
    • https://www.facebook.com/chris.a.tsirkas
    • https://soundcloud.com/chris-t-331652374
    • https://www.instagram.com/chris.a.tsirkas/
    • https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.tsirkas

Marco Benetti is a composer and musicologist. His compositional activity has led him to present projects at international festivals such as Biennale Musica (Venice), ManiFeste (IRCAM - Centre Pompidou), Macerata Opera Festival, IMPULS (Kunstuniversität Graz), Festival 5 Giornate (Milan), Festival Mixtur (Barcelona) and to collaborate among others with Ensemble InterContemporain, Divertimento Ensemble, Schallfeld Ensemble, Ensemble Recherche, ACRHOME Ensemble, ContempoartEnsemble. He teaches Theory of harmony and analysis at the G. B. Pergolesi Conservatory in Fermo (Marche, Italy). His music is published by BabelScores. He is interested in sound as an unstable, fluctuating, queer phenomenon.

New tracks tagged #Euripides