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Homer - The Singer of Tales
Footage of an oral poet Seref Tasliova, singing from an epic poem about the hero, Koruglu, in Turkish Armenia. He accompanies himself on a stringed instrument which emphasises the rhythm of the verse. His audience listen spellbound to the tale for hours. This demonstrates what an oral poet like Homer would actually have done as he sang his poems, the 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey', from memory to the accompaniment of a lyre. Homer, a travelling bard, provided entertainment in the homes of aristocrats. This footage also illustrates how compelling a master bard's song might have been.
