Music of Thrace
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Thrace is a historical region of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. The written musical history of the country extends back to ancient Greece, when Orpheus became a legendary musician. At the time the region was considered the musical center of all of Greece. Though the Thracian people were eventually assimilated by surrounding groups, such as the Bulgarians, elements of Thracian folk music continue.
Traditional Thracian dances are usually swift in tempo and are mostly circle dances in which the men dance at the front of the line. The gaida, a kind of bagpipe, is the most characteristic instrument, but clarinets and toumbelekis are also used. The Thracian gaida, also called the avlos, is very different than the Macedonian or Bulgarian bagpipes. It is more high in pitch then the Macedonian gaida but less so than the Bulgarian gaida (or Dura). The gaida originated in ancient Thrace, then spread to Macedonia during Alexander the Great's conquest. Durung the Slavic invasion of Europe, the newly-arrived Slavic people also incorporated the gaida into their music; it is still widely used throughout the Slavic countries. The Thracian gaida is also still widely used throughout Thrace in northeastern Greece.
The Thracians have always been very musical. Today, Thracian weddings last for three days, where there is constant drinking and dancing to the sounds of the gaida and the daouli. During ancient times up until the Slavic invasion, Thracians were taught to dance at a very young age. Since Thrace is the coldest part of Greece, dancing played a large part in keeping warm during the winter months.
[edit] Types of dances
- Hassapia: an ancient dance that simulates a stealth approach on any enemy camp, from beginning to victory
- Kallinitikos: performed by three people (either two men and one woman or two women and one man), named after the kalines, or friends of the bride during her wedding, who escort her to the church performing this dance
- Kouseftos: derived from kousevo (to run in Thracian language), performed, not in a circle, but in the form of a labyrinth
- Mandilatos (Mandra): a couples dance performed at weddings
- Stis tris: a slow but swift dance
- Syngathistos: performed as the bride and groom are escorted to and from the church during weddings
- Xesyrtos: a circle dance with men performed at the front of the line
- Zonaradikos: a circle dance in which the participants hold each other's belts. This is the primary dance of Thrace and primarily danced by men where many tricks are performed.
- Paidushko (Baiduska, Pajdusko, Pajduska, Payduska): a very aggressive dance, usually performed by men. It is performed using heavy movement.
- Halay: Halay is a famous dance in the Middle East. It is a symbol for the tempestuous way of life in its place of origin, Anatolia. It is a national dance in Armenia and Turkey. The traditional form of the Halay dance is played on the Zurna, supported by a Davul. The dancers form a circle or line while holding each other with the little finger. From Anatolia the Halay has spread to many other regions such as Armenia and the Balkans.
[edit] Listen to
- Eleftheria Arvanitaki - Do sta lianohortaroudia(Zonaradiko) (live)
- Pajdusko(Balkan Guzeli)
- Pajdusko(Balkan Guzeli)Turkish lyrics
- Alan cayirlari
- Trite puti
| Music of Southeastern Europe |
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Albania - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bulgaria - Croatia - Cyprus - Greece - Macedonia |
