Search - Various Artists :: Greek Oriental Rebetica

A fantastic recording of Greek Music of Asia Minor

Paul Kutscera | Bayside, New York USA | 09/09/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Put simply, this is a fantastic recording. It is a fine recording of urban music of the Greek communities of Anatolia (present day Turkey) which were wiped out earlier in this century. It spans the years 1927-1932 and features the pre-eminent instrumentalists and vocalists of the era. It features artists whose music continues to influence Greek and Turkish music to this day. Not surprisingly, many of the numbers are laments for a lost love, a lost way of life or a lost homeland; however, many of the numbers are upbeat and relect the vibrancy of this lost community. A few of the songs feature Antonios Diamandithes, nicknamed "Dalgas" (Turkish, for wave) for the extraordinary ululations of his voice. He has rightly been called one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century, and the proof is on this record. His "Ponos Tis Xenitia" is a song of the searing pain of exile. It is among the most moving, evocative songs ever recorded. I grew up listening to this type of music and this record is like a gift from heaven. Contrary to another review listed here which states that the instruments are all "Turkish" and that the music loses all it's Greek elements, nothing could be farther from the truth. These instruments can more accurately be called Anatolian or even Middle Eastern, no country or people can claim their origins, moreover, most of the virtuosoes of these instruments were Christian Greeks or Armenians. Also this "Smyrnaic" music (from the Greek city Smyrna on the coast of present day Turkey) forms the foundation of much of modern Greek music. The analogy has frequently been made that this music is to Greek and Turkish contemporary music what the blues is to American music. The allusion is very accurate in more ways than one. I would highly recommend this recording to anyone who has an interest in Greek, Turkish, Middle Eastern, Klezmer or world music in general. It is a paradigm of the genre, and no aficiando's library is complete without it."

Music of my heritage.

Paul Kutscera | 03/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Do your roots reach back to Asia Minor? Did you hear the stories from your grandparents about their flight from the old country? Yes? Then you're primed for this outstanding CD! The loving passion of these artists will allow you to experience the emotions your grandparents felt when they listened, and sang, to these folk classics. And I mean passion!"