MUSIC & TRADITION. Α. Vlavianos

Transcription

1 MUSIC & TRADITION Α. Vlavianos

2 MUSIC Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, increases the imagination and makes bad weather more pleasant. These and more wonderful words were said by Plato, our ancient philosopher, while the German philosopher Nietzsche said that without music life would be a mistake. We add that it would be a big mistake to forget our traditional music. Those listening which spoke and are still speaking to our soul.

3 MUSICS OF THE AEGEAN The music in the Archipelagos of the Aegean, is the richest in variety within the Hellenic region. Perhaps, e ause as the fa ous poet Elytis says this is the o ly area here the tria gle of ou tai s are so aturally i tegrated i to the ature s architecture. No here else the ythi reatures of the sea tales ha e so persuasi ely or the i gs of the i ds e ause it s a fa t that this music derives from the wind with the whispers and the cries of the sea with the colors and the artistic shapes of these islands. This Aegean Sea remains soundly as in the Homeric years. The beginning of the musical history of Aegean is lost in the myth connected with the birth of Zeus, the father of the gods, and Apollo, the god of music and light.

4 THE MELODY AND THE MAN The melody and song of nature live together with the music and the song with the same feeling of the human. The rich musical life in the Aegean region of antiquity is proved by many archaeological discoveries like objects and paintings on pottery, mosaics and frescoes. The well known Cycladic figures of the harpist and the flautist made of white parian marble, were found on the small island of Keros, near Amorgos. The harpist The piper Keros Amorgos 2400 B.C. Keros, Amorgos 2400 B.C.

5 Apollo troubador; ceramic tile; 500 BC Black-figure vase; satirical picture B.C. Ancient coin of Aigiali The dance of the girls of Samothrace in 340BC. Pan of amusement, playing ancient pibroch

6 Flute Wind Instrument Toubeleki - toubaki (percussion) This is one of the basic and oldest musical instruments from antiquity to the present. The single flute, the simplest type of musical instrument was made from bamboo. Toumbeleki is the closest companion of flute. Its body is a ceramic speaker made by stretched animal leather at the opening.

7 The melody and the man The melody and song of nature live together with the music and the song with the same feeling of the human.

8 There is a song within the Aegean islands while many angels are flying, they are throwing many beautiful roses. My Aegean please calm your blue waters to make the return of your children possible. In the Aegean area, everything is singing. The wind in the mountains and in the valleys. Sometimes mild and sometimes wild, through the leaves of the trees and the bushes. The sea i d is si gi g ith ea h a e s soft or ild o the ea h of our isla d. The birds of the sea and the land, the bees, the insects are eternally flying to all the beautiful flowers.

9 OUR TRADITIONAL MUSIC Children of music are dancing and singing Our traditional music is the breath of our homeland. It is the melodic breeze coming from the past to the cool of our soul in the stuffy at osphere of today s usy life. Today will pay a tribute to those who kept our musical tradition with their instruments and their singing. It is dedicated to those who offered us their music which we will cherish as long as we live. Not only for our enjoyment but for our peace of soul which we must pass on to the younger generation. These elements are proof of our cultural heritage.

10 Some dances for the men with special figures are Potamos, Magiatikos, Smyrneikos etc. Men Dance Κitsos To the most typical dances, tradition wants 2 men, the one who will lead and the one who will be the last one (falos). This dance is called Kitsos.

11 Dance Syrtos Ό Κ Κ Κ Ό The, the lead da er ill ask fro the o e to joi. This da e goi g i a ir le is alled Syrtos. The first lady is the honored one. During the dance, the violinist or the lute player sing wishes and praises for the lead dancer and his partner.

12 Dance Balos Κ Θ. Balos dance follows the Syrtos and is performed by one couple. Usually the lead dancer invites the honored lady, his wife, fia ée, sister or his flirt. In this case the songs are only for the lady. The movements of the dancer in balos symbolize the effort of the man to capture the love of the lady and are serious or more expressive depending on their relationship. In this da e there is a sho of the a s da i g a ilities. The lady ust e lo profile full of deli ate eha ior sy olizi g the traditional position of men and women in social life.

13 Dance Kalamatianos Κ Κ. Κ Κ. Kalamatianos dance: is performed in a circle and is reminiscent of the going back and forth of the sea waves. It comes from Kalamata of Peloponnesus. For this dance there is a certain typical song. As this is not an island dance, it will never be the initial dance.

14 Weddings Ε Ε. Έ Ε Κ. For eddi gs there is a spe ial da e ith spe ial usi alled The ridal tu e. It is fou d i the hole of Gree e. It s always organic.

15 Μantinada" Κ.,. Κ.. It is a song especially written and sung for the dancers right on the spot. These songs are composed by the talented musicians and as a theme, they usually have love or special events like a wedding, christening, engagement, success etc.

16 APOKRIANOS CARNIVAL τ χο τη τε ευτα α Απο ά, (τη υ ν ). This dance and song is referred to the last Sunday before the 40 days of lent (before Easter). On this day there is a lot of partying with eating and dancing and there is a special custom in the area of Aegiali, called Kapetanios. A usto goi g a k to the period of Turkish occupancy. A young man is chosen to be the Captain and he comes into the square of the village on a horse, followed by his servant who is carrying on a stick a big cheese and one octopus. The cheese symbolizing the rich period of eating ending and the octopus symbolizes the start of the lent period. The Captain selects a young lady to be his partner showing in this way his love. They go around the village followed by musicians and then they return to the village square where a big party with dancing, music and eating, starts.