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Subject: Greek Folk Musicians From: Fred McCormick Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:11 PM Passion Music http://www.passiondiscs.co.uk/ has a 4 CD set of discs in stock called Greek Folk Instruments. Part of the blurb reads:- "4 CD set with 40 page book in English and German. Various ensembles with soloists on the particular folk instruments used in Greek ethnic music................Participating musicians are Petros Halkias, Kyriakos Gevgelis, Thanasis Zoras, Petros Bozinis, Stavros Kouskouridas, Manos Ahalinotopoulos, Aristidis Vasilaris, Vangelis Karipis....." At £11.69, this sounds like a terrific bargain and the instruments listed are all common in Greek traditional music. The trouble is that there are no sound clips, and I don't recognise any of the artists listed. Can anyone throw any light on this set? If we're dealing with 'authentic' Greek traditional musicians, it would be absolutely unmissable. If not, for me at any rate, it could be £11.69 down the drain. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Leadfingers Date: 22 Dec 07 - 08:38 PM Try a PM to El Greko (George Papavgeris) - If ANY one knos , he should |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: George Papavgeris Date: 22 Dec 07 - 10:42 PM The fact that I might not recognise a name does not mean he/she is not excellent. After all, I have been living away from Greece for some 7 years. Also, in traditional Greek folk music there is not much of a "star system", some of the best still make their living playing festivals, weddings and christenings. Having said that, I recognise Petros Halkias, Kyriakos Gevgelis and Vangelis Karipis. Petros is famous indeed, being a member of the Halkias (literally, "Copper") family of Epirus musicians which is well known throughout Greece. I believe Vangelis is a member of a Greek Trad Ensemble in the Netherlands nowadays. And Kyriakos has accompanied some of the greatest Greek trad singers. Go on, Fred, get it; and if you don't like it, I'll buy it off you. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Barry Finn Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:09 PM Thanks just sent an e-mail with a link of this to a friend that plays & sings Greek Trad music with her Father & Brother Barry |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Brendy Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:03 AM I have a lot of old recordings from the island of Ikaria; a place where I spend the tail end of the summer some years, and have been fortunate enough to have been around for some of the Panagiria on that island. Here is a website I came across: a href=http://www.greekfolkmusicanddance.com/index.php target=new>Greek Folk Music And Dance dot com, lovingly maintained by the venerable Ioannis Pappayiorgas. B. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Brendy Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:04 AM ... sorry about that... Greek Folk Music And Dance dot com B. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Dave the Gnome Date: 23 Dec 07 - 06:04 PM I had a wonderful night, somewhere on Rhodes, chatting to a traditional Bazouki player - from Bradford! This 'ere global village has a lot to answer for... :D |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Brendy Date: 23 Dec 07 - 06:22 PM I love Greek Folk music... The last time I went down to Ikaria was in Aug 2005, and the local Council brought over a band from Athens that mixed the native rhythms with modern interpretations. I've been trying to track them down on the net, but I don't even have a name for them. They were excellent, though, and they stayed in the same hotel as I was in, the night they played. Great craic. We're all the same in the Folk World... the further I go, the more I see it. B |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Backwoodsman Date: 24 Dec 07 - 02:26 AM And while I was poking around in a little gift shop in Crete this summer, guess who was singing at me from out of the proprietor's CD player? None other than our very own George Papavgeris! Excellent surprise, made me feel quite homesick! :-) |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Fred McCormick Date: 24 Dec 07 - 04:42 AM George Papavgeris "The fact that I might not recognise a name does not mean he/she is not excellent." You're absolutely correct. It's my experience that many of the world's great folk musicians are the ones nobody ever hears of. "Petros is famous indeed, being a member of the Halkias (literally, "Copper") family of Epirus musicians which is well known throughout Greece." So Greece has its own Copper family! That does it. I'll have to get myself a copy. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: fat B****rd Date: 24 Dec 07 - 07:34 AM Years ago the good folk at Red Lick Records recommended Rembetika (Greek Blues !!)as I was holidaying in Greece. The owner/bazouki plauer at the local taverna was delighted that any tourist had heard of Rembetika and proceeded to treat us to a few live examples. In Hania the lovely young lady in the cd shop actually kept the "Gangster/Hashish" music under the counter. heck it out, there are websites. Hopa !! |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Brendy Date: 24 Dec 07 - 07:55 AM Another lady worth checking out is Haris Alexiou. ... what a voice... B. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: Fred McCormick Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:00 AM Largely on George Papavgeris' recommendation, I finally ordered a copy of this set and I thought folks might like a digest of what I found. The discs come in an extremely handsome folder, complete with stylish 39 page book, which discusses instruments and playing techniques in quite reasonable depth. The book is bilingual - German and English - and the English translations are well written. The music is completely authentic, IE., grass roots, with no concessions to tourism or to rock or other influences. It's just straightforward Greek traditional music, superbly played, and it appears to cover the whole gamut of traditional Greek instruments. In other words, at 11.69 plus p&p it's one helluva bargain. The drawback for me came when I realised that it was a product of FM Records. There's nothing wrong with that, except that FM has already released a series of standalone discs, likewise called 'Greek Folk Instruments', and I already have several discs in that series. This in fact is a condensed version of the standalone set. First reaction, oh hell! However, the original discs are pretty pricey (one site is selling them for $23.10 a disc, and the compele set runs to between 12 and 15 CDs. So I'm still on the still on the winning side. Overall, if you don't want, or can't afford the 'big league' set, this is an 'absolutely unmissable purchase'. No sane individual should be without it. http://www.passiondiscs.co.uk/e_pages/balkan_e/222620.htm |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: George Papavgeris Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:41 AM I can uncross my fingers then, Fred! I just ordered one myself - I don't have anything remotely comprehensive on Greek traditional instruments among my CDs, and I should - no excuse! Thanks for bringing this to my attention, and thanks for the feedback. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: katlaughing Date: 30 Jan 08 - 03:19 PM Thanks. I will be sending the info to my friend who is of Greek origin, living in the wilds of Wyoming. She will be pleased. Also, thanks, Brendy, for the link. I am listening to the samples at CDBaby right now. Lovely music. |
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Subject: RE: Greek Folk Musicians From: GUEST,Rich Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:54 PM I have a tape somewhere of a guy called Saradonis, who is/was a folk musician and singer from Crete. I got a copy when I was there for a summer years ago. One song was loosely translated as 'the red wine is my blood', fantastic stuff. I may just get a copy of this box set myself. |
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