The Spirit of Liberty of Panayoti Karousos is a Symphonic Poem for a large symphony orchestra, solo trombone and choir. The grandiosity and majestic heroic sound of this work made critics acclaim The Spirit of Liberty as a second national anthem of Greece.
Oh come spirit of liberty
And grant me broad wings
To soar above time and space
To fly far beyond.
It is I whom from chaos rises
As a soul of fire, surpassing
and living with responsibility
in Fate and God who guides me.
Even though your soul drowns in bloody tears
With a bitter smile, stand proud
On your pedestal and hear
The great anthem of freedom
Oh play trumpet, the paean
Let it rise higher than the sun
Stand, Freedom, as a luminous statue
And embody spirit, morality and bravery.
Oh break free from your chains, Prometheus,
The nations are yearning for you
And, Zeus, throw your thunderbolt
Into the heart of Hades.
Lead me by the hand, Freedom
Like another Byron or Alexander
Above Souli and Mesologgi
Above Marathon and Thermopiles.
From the ashes of the heroes past
again you shout your triumphant NO
upon the Pindus Mountains and me
I will praise this heroic battle
As a new Homer, as another Hugo.
Liberty or death!
Raise the sword and strike for Freedom!
With the Sacred Band I advance
On the holy road of the Mystery!
Oh, man’s time has come to create a fair, new society
Far from the tangible things and evil vices
A new spring’s day shines brightly now.
Oh play trumpet, the paean of freedom
Rise like a white dove above Athens and Greece
So all the nations can hear you.
Democracy, Culture, Brotherhood, Humanism, Freedom!
Panayoti Karousos
The poem is written for the Greek Revolution of 1821 against Ottoman Empire, but the composer want it always to give a vaster meaning of the work.
It was first presented in Montreal, Canada at the presence of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Second major presentation was under the auspices of the Greek Consulate General in Montreal at Place des Arts for the celebration of the Greek National Independence Day 25th of March 2002. The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York present The Spirit of Liberty in the presence of Archbishop Demetrios of America, a concert for the 2006 5th Avenue Greek Parade festivities under the direction of maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. Before the concert Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg gave a reception at his house in Manhattan.
The superposed sevenths and augmented sixths among with a thick orchestration give to this work an atmosphere of mystery and darkness.
It was first presented in Montreal, Canada at the presence of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Second major presentation was under the auspices of the Greek Consulate General in Montreal at Place des Arts for the celebration of the Greek National Independence Day 25th of March 2002. The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York present The Spirit of Liberty in the presence of Archbishop Demetrios of America, a concert for the 2006 5th Avenue Greek Parade festivities under the direction of maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. Before the concert Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg gave a reception at his house in Manhattan.
The superposed sevenths and augmented sixths among with a thick orchestration give to this work an atmosphere of mystery and darkness.
The solo trombone guides a melody as a cantus firmus in the middle of a galaxy of sounds running around of the center theme.
The heroic explosions of the trumpets and the vocal part ending the work in a total elevation of the human spirit, seeking liberty and screaming loud “Liberty or Death”
The one-hour duration of the work is a breathtaking experience.
The heroic explosions of the trumpets and the vocal part ending the work in a total elevation of the human spirit, seeking liberty and screaming loud “Liberty or Death”
The one-hour duration of the work is a breathtaking experience.
THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY
Oh come spirit of liberty
And grant me broad wings
To soar above time and space
To fly far beyond.
It is I whom from chaos rises
As a soul of fire, surpassing
and living with responsibility
in Fate and God who guides me.
Even though your soul drowns in bloody tears
With a bitter smile, stand proud
On your pedestal and hear
The great anthem of freedom
Oh play trumpet, the paean
Let it rise higher than the sun
Stand, Freedom, as a luminous statue
And embody spirit, morality and bravery.
Oh break free from your chains, Prometheus,
The nations are yearning for you
And, Zeus, throw your thunderbolt
Into the heart of Hades.
Lead me by the hand, Freedom
Like another Byron or Alexander
Above Souli and Mesologgi
Above Marathon and Thermopiles.
From the ashes of the heroes past
again you shout your triumphant NO
upon the Pindus Mountains and me
I will praise this heroic battle
As a new Homer, as another Hugo.
Liberty or death!
Raise the sword and strike for Freedom!
With the Sacred Band I advance
On the holy road of the Mystery!
Oh, man’s time has come to create a fair, new society
Far from the tangible things and evil vices
A new spring’s day shines brightly now.
Oh play trumpet, the paean of freedom
Rise like a white dove above Athens and Greece
So all the nations can hear you.
Democracy, Culture, Brotherhood, Humanism, Freedom!
Panayoti Karousos
