Lesson activity
We will begin by teaching the song’s lyrics line by line. We will only be learning one verse, as it could be difficult for Grade 8 students to learn any more in an unfamiliar language.
Milo mou kokkino, roido vammeno,
Milo mou kokkino, roido vammeno,
Giati me maranes to pikrameno?
Giati me maranes to pikrameno?
It is important to emphasize pronunciation, so the instructor must model the words carefully. Pay careful attention to “giati,” in which the G sound is a cross between a hard G and a Y sound - like a Y started with the tongue on the hard palate.
Next we will add the melody, which can be modelled either on the piano, with a video, or with MuseScore. The verse starts here in measure 9:
Once the students are comfortable with the lyrics and melody, we can sing it together as a class. Given the 7/8 time signature, it could prove difficult to count, so using a recording may be the simplest way to keep everyone together.
lesson background
Milo Mou Kokkino is a Greek folk song with deep cultural significance. It is commonly sung and danced at weddings, parties, and other celebrations. This lesson will teach students to sing the Greek lyrics and melody, as well as help them understand the cultural, symbolic, and lyrical meanings behind the piece.
The lyrics speak of apples and pomegranates, which represent life, beauty, love, and fertility. The piece is often accompanied by Syrtos, a traditional Greek dance in which participants link hands to form a chain.
This myth recounts the story of Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus, and her abduction by Hades, the God of the Underworld.
On a beautiful day, while picking flowers, the earth splits open, and Hades whisks her away to the Underworld. Demeter, devastated by her daughter's disappearance, neglects her duties as the Goddess of Growth, causing the earth to wither.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld, Persephone adapts to her role as Queen, torn between her longing for her mother and her growing bond with Hades. When Zeus sends Hermes to retrieve her, Hades gives Persephone pomegranate seeds, binding her to the Underworld.
A compromise is reached: Persephone will spend part of the year with her mother, symbolizing spring and summer, and the rest with Hades, marking fall and winter. Persephone embraces her dual roles as the Queen of the Underworld and the Goddess of Renewal, embodying both life and transformation.
Comparison to Other Religious Stories
Greek mythology is often used as the basis for fantastical media works that don’t always respect or follow the original stories. The Abrahamic religions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - tend to be treated with more reverence and respect. Even less serious adaptations like VeggieTales still stay true to the original stories and treat the subject matter with respect. In comparison, Disney’s Hercules featured an evil, maniacal Hades, when in reality he was no more or less evil than any of the other Greek gods. Marvel recently featured Zeus as a washed-up braggart, used as a comical villain.
Cultural Appropration: “OPA!”
Oftentimes, one can hear a cry of “OPA!” in a restaurant after a plate or glass is dropped. This exclamation is widely used in Greek culture, its meaning changing depending on context. While this is hardly the most malicious example, it does in fact represent a form of cultural appropriation, since non-Greek people are using the expression without knowledge or respect for its meaning or context.
Grade 8 Ontario Arts Curriculum: Music
This activity fits perfectly with C1.1, exposing students to a piece of world music that has cultural significance.