GREEK MUSIC 

Music has always played an important role in the lives of the Greeks and, therefore, the Greek music has evolved as an art form, a music system, and creative expression. As art has gradations, functions, systems, rhythms, harmonic and notational agreements differ from those of Western music.

Without doubt the most important contribution to Greek music was from Byzantium with its unique Byzantine Chant, a music system from the 1st century AD as the academic music of the huge Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine chant has survived until our days, in the context of the Greek Orthodox Church and the place to hear it is during the Sunday service.

Another aspect of Greek music is immortal national songs, many of which are both respected as religious. These are songs from the soul of the nation and relate to both individual and collective, national struggles, adventures, feelings, beliefs and the beliefs of the locals. There are heroic and sentimental songs, songs of the mountains, the plains and the sea, historically and socially songs, songs of joy and sorrow and songs associated with the ageless Greek traditional dances.

In Greece there are many styles and all weights and measures used both in antiquity and today. The consolidation and the teaching of music has roots in the beginning of Greek history. Hermes, Apollo, Athena, Dionysus and the Muses were the founders of Greek music and demigods like the Centaur Chiron taught the people. The zwitterionic built Thebes over the sound of his lyre, Orpheus imerefse wild animals with his music, while Pythagoras attempted to mark the mysteries of infinity at the base of the symphony. With the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Greek musical system spread throughout the known world and became a common musical language and means of expression through sound. Nowadays, the Greeks have fun with these kinds of music depending on the occasion, the place and the mood:

Traditional music:

The Dimotika is old traditional songs accompanied by clarinets, guitars, tambourines and include dance music forms like kalamatiano. The Islands are also folk songs from the Aegean, as the ball. The melody is generally cheerful and lyrical forms the traditional music of the island. Cretan folk songs are from Crete and the lyre is the dominant musical instrument.

Famous music:

The Rempetiko derived from the traditions of bourgeois poor and accompanied by the bouzouki. The Artistic literally meaning the art of singing is orchestral music with elements from Greek traditional rhythm and melody and is often referred to political issues or based on the works of famous Greek poets, as does Mimis Thoedorakis. The People were widespread the 50s and 60s and has been influenced mainly by oriental music. The Folk of the other songs that mean ordinary people are nowadays the most well known genre. The Tsifteteli came to Greece by refugees from Asia Minor in the early 20s and are basically the Greek version of belly dancing. The Greek bouzouki joint is modification of Arabic music. In addition, there is the Artistic Pop, Modern Pop, the Teenage Pop, Pop Rock and Pop Rap.