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Subject "What is Greek Sounding?"

Date Tue Feb 14 2006 13:22

Author Damianos



"What is Greek sounding?" indeed. I wonder what the Greeks said when the first bouzouki players starting showing up. Did people say it wasn't Greek to them too? Nowadays if it's new and different then the purists always have the "it's not Greek" crutch to lean on. Very nice. It's all good that you and I can agree on such things Nikos, but despite our agreement on this issue it still pisses me off when somebody comes to me with that BS line just because I didn't play diplo penia triplets 100% of the time. I know the Greek roots and I respect and learn from the old players even to this day but I cannot just shut out all the other good music I have been exposed to. That would be self defeating and foolish. I would be a musical parody of myself. The only way to make any progress is to learn as much as I can. I am half Greek (father) and half Hungarian (mother) and I have much exposure to music from both places. Both are in the Balkans so not everything is completely different. There is even a dromo that is used in Greek music that is Hungarian in origin. There are actually many things in Greek music that are borrowed from the music of other countries. Anyways, with my dual ethnicity, I play what I hear in my head which is mostly Greek Bouzouki but still incorporates some Hungarian violin language which I learned from listening to and playing with Gypsy bands in Hungary. The Hungarian violin style is much more technically demanding than the bouzouki (which should tell you a lot as bouzouki music is not easy at all) This Hungarian element is very difficult to translate onto the Bouzouki but the hard work is worth it as it compliments the Greek songs I play quite nicely. I also take much inspiration from Persian and Arabic Oud music. It is very personal and introspective in nature. It is not the Tsipouro guzzling party affair that occurs in night clubs. It forces the listener to be absorbed by it. It is simply beautiful. The rhythms and time structures are more intense than even Greek music. So again there is much to be learned from there as well and at the same time is very relevant to the "Greek sound" As far as the naysayers are concerned. I can understand some 60+ year old layman sayin the "it ain't Greek" thing but when a fellow musician says things like this it is still irritating. I know better but I can't help getting pissed off. It's hard enough as a musician to try and get a career happening on any level without illiterate, uneducated, know-it-alls trying to belittle all the hard work you've put into your craft. Sorry about the rant but like I said in my previous post this has been a thorn in my side for years. I had to get this off of my chest. I know it will not change anything in the long run but it still feels good to write about it to somebody who knows what I'm talking about. PS...Hope you're doing well Niko.

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