The traditional music of Epirus, northwestern Greece, is essential
for any celebration being hosted, weddings, baptisms and village
festivals. The clarinet is the emblematic instrument of Epirus. The
dramatic expression and craftsmanship by which it is been played,
does not leave anyone without being moved. The album was recorded by
the French in 1986, and introduces us to the Ensemble Takoutsia of
the Zagori village musicians, who come from the Kapsalis family.
Today only Gregoris survives, considered one of the greatest masters
of the clarinet. On the disc we hear a beautiful miroloï , a long
instrumental lement piece from the clarinet, violin and lute as well
as dances and table songs.
This cd presents three categories of the traditional music of
Epirus: Miroloï lement music, dance music and table songs. The first
two categories involve instrumental formations: the Miroloï is
performed by a clarinet, a violin and a lute, plus for dance music, a
tambourine, which emphasizes the rhythmic structure. For the
execution of the table songs, there is the use of a second clarinet,
which replaces the first, since in this musical category, the first
clarinetist becomes a singer.
As in all the Balkans and much of the Mediterranean, the scales
that underlie the melodies of Epirus are of the modal type. In many
cases, some of the degrees of these scales are mobile, that is to say
moving slightly depending on whether the melody is ascending or
descending. Other features: the transition from one mode to another
within the same song that has the effect of bringing about a change
of atmosphere, sound, and finally the ornamentation - often
improvised - which gives a more dense texture to the melody.
In the music of Epirus,
the rhythmic action of instrumental music and songs is slower than in
the rest of Greece, whether it be a moroloï, or table song or
dancing music which are attributed in heavy manner and are always
slow moving.
Tracklist:
1. Miroloï, lement music [10:59]
2. Ilios, traditional dance [6:34]
3. Kyra Frossini, table song
[3:56]
4. Zagorissio, traditional dance [4:21]
5. Otan anthisoun ta klaria, table song [5:37]
6. Arvanitiko, traditional dance [2:56]
Musicians:
Grigoris Kapsalis, clarinet and vocals
Zacharia Drambalos, clarinet
Spiros Kapsalis, lute
Kosta Kapsalis, violin
Michalis Markopoulos, tambourine
Zulas Kapsalis, tambourine
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