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This recording features a tune that was recorded multiple times in Greek historical discography, either as a song or an instrumental piece, in locations such as Cairo, New York, Chicago, and Athens. For example:
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Greek Instrumental Quartette, Cairo, February 2, 1909 (Gramophone Concert Record 12031b – 18201).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Kyria [Mrs.] Koula with violin, lute, santour accompaniment, New York, 1917 (Columbia USA 44924 – E 3610).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Giorgos Makrygiannis or Nisyrios (violin), V. Katsetos (lute), G. Klosterides (santour), New York, January 9, 1918 (Victor B 21343-1 – 72702-A).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Marika Papagkika and Alexis Zoumbas; (violin), Markos Sifnios (cello), Kostas Papagkikas (cimbalom), New York, 1923 (Columbia USA 59862-2 – 56005-F).
– “To Sylivriano”, Angelos K. Stamos and Spyros Stamos (cimbalom), Giorgos Gkretsis (violin), Chicago, 1924-1925 (Greek Record Company 745 – 515-B), present recording.
– “Sylivriano”, Antonis Dalgkas (Diamantidis) – Orchestra, Dimitris Semsis or Salonikios (violin), Athens, January 23, 1927 (His Master's Voice BF-779 – AO-204).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Dimitris Semsis or Salonikios (violin), Dimitris Arapakis or Arapaki (santour), Kyriakides (oud), Unknown (clarinet), Athens, 1927 (Columbia UΚ W 20025 – 8002).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Folk Orchestra – Giannis Kyriakatis (clarinet), Athens, 1928 (Odeon Go 647-2 – GA 1345).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Folk Orchestra with Ogdontakis [Giannis Dragatsis] (violin), [Nikos] Rellias (clarinet), [Kostas] Tzovenos (santour), Athens, 1928 (Polydor 5459-AR – V-50230).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Popular Orchestra and Antonis Amiralis or Papatzis (harmonica), Athens, 1930 (Pathé 70.046 – X. 80058).
– “Silyvriano”, Roza Eskenazi – Popular Orchestra with harmonica, Athens, 21 November 1934 (His Master's Voice OGA 21-1 – AO 2178), as an arrangement by Dimitris Semsis.
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Orchestra, Kostas Gkantinis (clarinet), USA, 1940s (Balkan 815-Β).
In 1956, the American composer of Armenian origin Allan Hovhaness [Alan Vaness Chakmakjian (Աական Հայիկան Պայաներեն), Somerville, Massachusetts, March 8, 1911 – Seattle, June 21, 2000] completed his work "Seven Greek Folk Dances, Op. 150". Hovhaness, who considered the Greek painter Ermolaos Ionidis (better known as Hermon di Giovannno) as his spiritual teacher while visiting Greece in the period 1953 – 1955, arranged seven Greek dances for harmonica and strings (or piano): 1. Hassapiko, 2. The Selybrian Syrtos, 3. Sweet Basil Green, 4. Karagouna, 5. Tsaconian dance, 6. Pastoral, 7. Sousta. The second, entitled "Selybrian Syrtos" draws material from the tune we are examining. The work was presented in 1958 in Berlin by John Sebastian, harmonica, and Renato Josi, piano (see here), in 2001 in Athens by Christos Zerbinos, accordion, and the Athens String Orchestra conducted by Lefteris Kalkanis (see here), in 2003 in Tokyo by the Japanese Joe Sakimoto, harmonica, and Haruki Mino, piano (see here), and in 2013 in Milan by the Italian Gianluca Littera, harmonica, and the Orchestra Stesichoros conducted by Francesco Di Mauro (see here).
The Greek Record Company was founded in 1922-1923 in Chicago by Giorgos Gkretsis, a violinist and co-founder, alongside his father Dimitrios, of the first Greek musical instrument manufacturing factory in Chicago named "Terpandros" (1910). The record company was directed by composer, lyricist and cimbalom player Spyros Stamos.
For more information on Giorgos Gkretsis and the Greek Record Company, see Sotirios (Sam) Chianis' text "George Dimitrios Grachis (1882-1965)" in Bucuvalas, 2019: 345-353.
This recording features a tune that was recorded multiple times in Greek historical discography, either as a song or an instrumental piece, in locations such as Cairo, New York, Chicago, and Athens. For example:
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Greek Instrumental Quartette, Cairo, February 2, 1909 (Gramophone Concert Record 12031b – 18201).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Kyria [Mrs.] Koula with violin, lute, santour accompaniment, New York, 1917 (Columbia USA 44924 – E 3610).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Giorgos Makrygiannis or Nisyrios (violin), V. Katsetos (lute), G. Klosterides (santour), New York, January 9, 1918 (Victor B 21343-1 – 72702-A).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Marika Papagkika and Alexis Zoumbas; (violin), Markos Sifnios (cello), Kostas Papagkikas (cimbalom), New York, 1923 (Columbia USA 59862-2 – 56005-F).
– “To Sylivriano”, Angelos K. Stamos and Spyros Stamos (cimbalom), Giorgos Gkretsis (violin), Chicago, 1924-1925 (Greek Record Company 745 – 515-B), present recording.
– “Sylivriano”, Antonis Dalgkas (Diamantidis) – Orchestra, Dimitris Semsis or Salonikios (violin), Athens, January 23, 1927 (His Master's Voice BF-779 – AO-204).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Dimitris Semsis or Salonikios (violin), Dimitris Arapakis or Arapaki (santour), Kyriakides (oud), Unknown (clarinet), Athens, 1927 (Columbia UΚ W 20025 – 8002).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Folk Orchestra – Giannis Kyriakatis (clarinet), Athens, 1928 (Odeon Go 647-2 – GA 1345).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Folk Orchestra with Ogdontakis [Giannis Dragatsis] (violin), [Nikos] Rellias (clarinet), [Kostas] Tzovenos (santour), Athens, 1928 (Polydor 5459-AR – V-50230).
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Popular Orchestra and Antonis Amiralis or Papatzis (harmonica), Athens, 1930 (Pathé 70.046 – X. 80058).
– “Silyvriano”, Roza Eskenazi – Popular Orchestra with harmonica, Athens, 21 November 1934 (His Master's Voice OGA 21-1 – AO 2178), as an arrangement by Dimitris Semsis.
– “Syrtos Silyvrianos”, Orchestra, Kostas Gkantinis (clarinet), USA, 1940s (Balkan 815-Β).
In 1956, the American composer of Armenian origin Allan Hovhaness [Alan Vaness Chakmakjian (Աական Հայիկան Պայաներեն), Somerville, Massachusetts, March 8, 1911 – Seattle, June 21, 2000] completed his work "Seven Greek Folk Dances, Op. 150". Hovhaness, who considered the Greek painter Ermolaos Ionidis (better known as Hermon di Giovannno) as his spiritual teacher while visiting Greece in the period 1953 – 1955, arranged seven Greek dances for harmonica and strings (or piano): 1. Hassapiko, 2. The Selybrian Syrtos, 3. Sweet Basil Green, 4. Karagouna, 5. Tsaconian dance, 6. Pastoral, 7. Sousta. The second, entitled "Selybrian Syrtos" draws material from the tune we are examining. The work was presented in 1958 in Berlin by John Sebastian, harmonica, and Renato Josi, piano (see here), in 2001 in Athens by Christos Zerbinos, accordion, and the Athens String Orchestra conducted by Lefteris Kalkanis (see here), in 2003 in Tokyo by the Japanese Joe Sakimoto, harmonica, and Haruki Mino, piano (see here), and in 2013 in Milan by the Italian Gianluca Littera, harmonica, and the Orchestra Stesichoros conducted by Francesco Di Mauro (see here).
The Greek Record Company was founded in 1922-1923 in Chicago by Giorgos Gkretsis, a violinist and co-founder, alongside his father Dimitrios, of the first Greek musical instrument manufacturing factory in Chicago named "Terpandros" (1910). The record company was directed by composer, lyricist and cimbalom player Spyros Stamos.
For more information on Giorgos Gkretsis and the Greek Record Company, see Sotirios (Sam) Chianis' text "George Dimitrios Grachis (1882-1965)" in Bucuvalas, 2019: 345-353.
© 2019 KOUNADIS ARCHIVE
