Why The Mountains Ar - Why The Mountains Are Black - Primeval Greek Village Music: 1907-1960 [CD]
Why The Mountains Are Black - Primeval Greek Village Music: 1907-1960
Why The Mountains Ar
CD
Third Man Records is proud to present a truly rare musical oddity—a two disc collection of primal and unhinged Greek village music that at times sounds more like free jazz or doom folk, feral and trance-like as it is. After years of research, fieldwork and collecting, Christopher King—Grammy-winning producer, sound-engineer, curator and writer—has gathered together from his private 78 rpm archive the most mind expanding and libido inducing song and dance music from the rural hinterlands of mainland Greece and its islands. Recorded between 1907 and 1960, this collection contains the first and the last—the alpha and the omega—of Greek demotika—or folk music. And it is not what you would expect. Remastered from the original 78 rpm discs, this set contains 28 previously unissued recordings made in the cramped, primitive studios of Athens, Greece, New York, NY, and Chicago, IL. Crazed Macedonian bagpipes, keening violins, shiver-inducing zournas and shepherd-pipes are found throughout the two discs. Cover artwork is by legendary underground artist R. Crumb and designed by Grammy winning Susan Archie. A beautifully thought-provoking if not radical essay on this music by King accompanies the lavish package. Not simply for historians or collectors of long gone sounds, this compilation is intended to push the limits of what we have come to expect of music, its purpose and indeed its origin. You will experience a profound musical transformation immediately upon listening.
Tracklist:
- Kalamatianos (Dance of Kalamata) by K. Bournelis, F. Tsilikos, Christos Kantilas
- Sousta Rethymniotiki (Sousta Dance of Rethymno) by G. Canteris & G. Gombakis
- Giati Ine Mavra Ta Vouna (Why the Mountains Are Black) by J. Lengas, J. Patsios, G. Kokotis
- Ousak Tsiftelli (Tsiftelli Rhythm Dance in Ousak Mode) by Athanasios Lavidas
- Enas Aetos (An Eagle) by Diamadidis
- Mirologi-Epirotiko Makedoniko (An Epirotic-Macedonian Lament) by Elias Karathimos
- Makedoniko Hasapiko (Hasapikos Dance of Macedonia) by Efthimios Christou
- Selfos (Nightingale) by Demitrios Halkias
- Enas Aetos-Tsamiko (An Eagle - Dance) by Tchousi, Damalas & Company
- E Triantafylllia (The Rose Tree) by Alexis Zoubas, C. Papagikas
- Pera Ston Pera Maxala (Over to the Other Neighborhood) by Christos Daralas & Nikos Karakostas
- Syrtos Haniotikos (Syrtos Dance from Hania) by Nikos Harhalis & Mavrodimitris
- Syrtos Politikos (Dance from Constantinople) by Kyr. Keravnos & Michalis Giasemidis
- Kalymnikos Issos (Dance from Kalymnos) by S. Zembillas & I. Mailles
- Arvanitiko O Aetos (An Eagle, Arvanitiko Style) by K. Bournelis, F. Tsilikos, Christos Kantilas
- Svarniara (Reckless Woman) by Christos Daralas & Nikos Karakostas
- Kalamatianos (Dance of Kalamata) by Panagiotis Kokontinis & Harabalos Kavakos
- Platanos (Plane Tree) by Athanasios Lavidas
- Golfo (A Ballad) by Anonymous
- Patinada Tis Nifis (Wedding Dance) by Georgios Zisis & Athanasios Kolisaras
- Pousteno, Boufiou (Loose Dance) by Efthimios Christou
- Karagouna, Gianniotiko (Karagouna Dance, Ioannina-style) by Vasilis Vasiliou with Demotic Orchestra
- Kotta Mou (My Chicken) by Antonios Sakelarou
- Syrtos Politikos (Dance from Constantinople) by Christos Baniakas
- Eseis Padia Vlahopoila (You Young Vlach Children) by Christos Baniakas
- Kritiki Sousta (Fast Dance from Crete) by A. Karavitis & G. Marianos
- Tzarama (Shepherd Flute Song) by Nikos Karakostas & M. Kallergis
- Kalymniki Sousta (Dance from Kalymnos) by S. Zeimbillas & I. Mailles