Sappho 16: The Most Beautiful Thing. Ancient Greek. Lesvos, Greece. Bettina Joy de Guzman

Οἰ μὲν ἰππήων στρότον, οἰ δὲ πέσδων,
οἰ δὲ νάων φαῖσ’ ἐπὶ γᾶν μέλαιναν
ἔμμεναι κάλλιστον, ἐγὼ δὲ κῆν’ ὄτ-
τω τις ἔραται

This version, Sappho 16 first verse, which I call “The Most Beautiful Thing,” was written for Cynthia Word of Word Dance Theater, for our lyre and chorus dance performance in Delphi, for the Delphic Festival, in conjunction with Isadora Duncan International Institute, on May 2022. I kept it very rhythmic for the dancers, and the idea of the horses and foot soldiers mentioned, but I followed Sappho’s meter, though I exaggerated the long syllables. Sappho 16 translates:

Some say a host of cavalry, or of foot soldiers,
Or of ships, on this black earth
is the most beautiful thing.
But I,
It is whatsoever you desire.

Filmed in Molyvos (Mithymna), in Lesvos, Greece.

Music: Bettina Joy de Guzman
Drums, percussions, pedal harp, lyre and voice: Bettina Joy de Guzman
BettinaJoyDeGuzman.com