This release from the
Smithsonian Folkways Recording
series, by the
International Institute for Traditional Music
presents rare recordings of old traditional music from Crete. These recordings were done between 1977 and 1982. They include songs, either sung a cappella or with instrumental accompaniment, from three main genres of Crete singing: rizitika, mandinakhes, and tabakhaniotika. Rizitika is the most important, sung at weddings, but also other important social occasions. It has few different repertoires, and was originally sung as shepherd songs. The mandinadhes songs are lyrical songs based on political verses and deal with any topic, while the tabakhaniotika is an urban genre, performed in cafes, mixing Greek and Turkish elements. Mandinadhes songs are somewhat improvised while rizitika are more strictly composed. This CD presents an almost unknown music from a people we rarely hear about. We hear the soul of a proud people. ~ Bruno Deschenes