Greek Folk Music Research Paper

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Greek folk music is a certain style of popular music played by ‘'ethnic Greeks’’ in countries like Australia, the United States and Greece. However, mainly originating from Greece, with songs written around the time of ancient Greek poetry and music. Greek folk music can by categorised in two mainly genres: Akrtic and Klephtic. Akrtic being “between the ninth and tenth centuries A.D. and expressed the life and struggles of the Akrites (frontier guards) of the Byzantine Empire.” Klephtic being “born between the end of the Byzantine period and the beginning of the Greek Revolution that led to the Greek Independence in 1821. This style was created by the "kleftes", the heroes who left to live in the mountains, leading a revolutionary action against the Ottoman tyranny,” expressing the bloody period (freedom, sorrows, love, exile and death) and life in Greece at the time. Furthermore, the popular Greek folk genres stemming from these styles mainly are, Rebetiko, Laiko and Contemporary entekhno (artistic). Rebetiko Greek folk music emerge around the 1950s being …show more content…

It emerged on the scene slowly after the popularity of Rebetiko Greek folk music. Classic Laiko also being another popular genre within the Laiko Greek folk music, during the 1960s - 1970s period. The lyrics content within these genres, mainly talks about love and even the instrumentals have a tender smoothly, easy listening sound. An example of songs:”Stylianos "Stelios" Kazantzidis”, “Giorgos Zampetas - O penintaris (1971)” and “Dimitris Mitropanos - S' anazito sti Saloniki (live)”. Some of the time signatures for this genre are normally 9/4, 4/8 4/4, 5/4 and instruments used are Bouzouki, a four-string instrument. Baglamas, a three-string instrument with doubled string, making it six in total etc. One of the dances associated with this genre is Zeibekiko, with a time signature of

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