Greek Music

Greek music is a legacy by itself. Like the Greek culture that had reached its peak even its music has enjoyed the heights of popularity in and around the area.
It begins from the ancient world when theatre was the heart of the country. But only dialogues were not entertaining and hence music was invented. Changes in the style of music occurred as different empires came to reign in the country.
In the beginning it was only men that could sing and perform in theatres. Later women too were allowed to sing and mixed gender choruses reverberated in music halls. The instruments then used were the double reed aulos, the lyre and the special one of its kind called the kithara.
Not only was the Greek culture influential it was also the music that was influenced, thus their notational system in music was wide spread in Greece. Not only Rome but even the western world is known to have used the musical modes created by the Greeks.
Music was such an important aspect in Greece that children were taught music form the age of six. No doubt by the time they grew up they knew much more about music; how to compose, create etc.
They even owned music cafes in Istanbul and Izmir where they were bands that were led by female vocalists. The music was played on a typical sandouri and the violin. Well known musicians were Agapios Tomboulis, Marika Papagika, Rita Abatzi and Rosa Eskenazi.
During the reign of the Byzantine Empire, the Byzantine music grew that encompassed liturgical songs. It was inspired by the monophonic vocals that had been brought in by the Christians in cities like Alexandrina, Ephesus and Antioch.
Ancient Greek music basically comprised of Akritic and Kleptic music. Akrtic music was born of the border guards during the Byzantine Empire. With the end of this empire the Kleptic music rose by the Kleftes who were warriors against the Ottoman Empire.
Modern music was quickly swallowed by the Greeks with Eptanissan music that became the saga of the modern world in Greece. Due to the rule of the Ottoman that ruled Greece for over 4 centuries, they had already missed the Renaissance. On the other hand the Ionian islands that were ruled by Italians were flourishing against the stark contrast of poverty that lived in the Ottoman dictated areas.
As relationships with neighbouring countries like Turkey and the Middle East bettered, music was blended in different languages. There were duets sung by Greeks and Turks and they were a hit from day one. Singers like Sarbel have songs translated from Arabic to Greek. Songs are now easily translated from Greek to Arabic, from Arabic to Greek and Turkish. As the music is very similar in these regions due to the ancient influences, the slight variations, different languages bring in are always welcome by the public, giving it a huge fan following.
Greek music is documented from time immemorial, leafing through them one can see the sea change that has come in from the ancient world to the modern harmony. Yet there remain traces of the early music with modes, melodies and indigenous instruments that give you a feel of the ancient and the modern world.