Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association Choir

The first phase: 1993 – 2012

The choir was formed in 1993 by Domna Samiou. In its initial composition, it consisted of students from the traditional singing class she taught at the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments ‘Phoebus Anogeianakis’ from 1993 to 2001.

Afterwards, members and friends of the Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association joined the choir. Most members were amateur singers.

Under Domna’s guidance, the choir participated in concerts and studio recordings.

Choir members (in alphabetical order): Anna Anastasiadou, Katerina Apostolopoulou, Despoina Basakarou, Stelios Berberis, Angeliki Chanoumi, Tita Daskalaki, Dimitris Dimopoulos, Olga Filaniotou, Fotini Frangoulia, Thanassis Georgiou, Thanassis Gekas, Koula Giazitzoglou, Panagiotis Giorginis, Theofilos Gomatos, Nikos Goulopoulos, Yannis Kabouris, Christina Kapopoulou, Eleni Karagiorgi, Pola Karantana, Vassilis Karkantzos, Eleni Katsa, Anna Katsoulaki, Sophia Korre, Alexandros Koskiniotis, Dimitrios Mantzouris, Michalis Mantzouris, Nikolaos Mantzouris, Panteleimon Mantzouris, Katerina Mitropoulou, Lazaros Mitsis, Elina Papadopoulou, Tasia Papanikolaou, Panagiotis Pestrovas, Alexandros Sigalos, Argyris Stamopoulos, Michalis Stroumbakis, Thanassis Tsaknakis, Tryfon Tsatsaros, Yannis Tsiotsiopoulos, Kostas Vangelidis, Myrto Vounatsou.

The second phase: 2014 – present

After Domna Samiou’s death, her collaborator Katerina Papadopoulou took charge of the choir and launched the second phase of its live.

Today, the Domna Samiou Choir has many new members selected each time by the students who attend the Traditional Song Courses organized by the Association.

MORE ABOUT THE COURSES

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Ηρώδειο, 2012
Ηρώδειο, 2012
Concert
Γιορτή της Άνοιξης, 1995
Γιορτή της Άνοιξης, 1995
In the yard of the Museum of Greek Folk Art
Ύδρα, 1994
Ύδρα, 1994
Instructing the choir at the tavern
Επίδαυρος, 1995
Επίδαυρος, 1995
Lessons in the ancient theatre
Μαθήματα, 2017
Μαθήματα, 2017
With Katerina Papadopoulou
Ηρώδειο, 2012
Γιορτή της Άνοιξης, 1995
Ύδρα, 1994
Επίδαυρος, 1995
Μαθήματα, 2017

Songs

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  • SongCentral GreeceEuboea, Agios DimitriosFable Song (Ballad)

A Fair Maid Did Sing

  • Κόρη ξανθή τραγούδησε ⬥ A fair maid did sing upon a rope bridge, but the bridge collapsed, and the river stood still. And the river spirit came to her and asked: – Girl, if you are still a maid, may you never know a man, and if you’ve children and [...]
Μια προυσταγή μιγάλη
  • SongMacedoniaChalkidiki, IerissosHistorical Song

A Great Command

  • Μια προυσταγή μιγάλη ⬥ And the king did command and ’twas a great command: fleet and admiral were to quit the land. By the Lord’s command and the King’s if-you-please the fleet was to sail for the twelve islands. Many fine ships rounded Cavo Doro, fair flying by; when Lambros [...]
d27
  • SongSporadesSkiathosFable Song (Ballad)

A Little Shorty (Skiathos)

  • Ένας κοντός κοντούτσικος (Σκιάθος) ⬥ A short little man had a beautiful wife. The whole neighbourhood was jealous, and all the land and a pasha, a pasha envied him, too. He taxed him hard, imposed a load too heavy to bear. He sold vineyards heavy with grapes and fields swaying [...]
d27
  • SongAsia MinorFable Song (Ballad)

A Maid from Evripο

  • Μια κόρη από την Εύριπου ⬥ A maid from Evripo sought to set sail, she sought to make passage. She sought to make the passage to the far shore and paid a hundred Venetian sequins, a hundred gold pieces to be taken to her homeland and four hundred and four [...]
d20
  • SongCentral GreeceEuboea, GymnoEaster Song, Ritual Song, Sea and Sailors Song

All Attend at Church

(Easter Dance)

  • Όλοι πάνε στην εκκλησά ⬥ All attend –for sake of Christ– all attend at church to exclaim that ‘Christ is Risen!’ and to hear the Word. As for me, they send me to the shore to guard some sailing vessels. I can see some sailing ships approach and boats are [...]
d24
  • SongPeloponneseLove Song

All the Birds, Two by Two

  • Όλα τα πουλάκια ζυγά-ζυγά ⬥ All the birds, amàn amàn, the birds nest two by two, all the birds two by two, the swallow with his mate. The lonesome nightingale all alone awanders the plains with the eagle. Walking, talking and singing away. – Hey you, peddler, from Missolόnghi, Where [...]
Όλα τα κάστρα τα είδα
  • SongPeloponneseFable Song (Ballad)

All the Castles I Have Seen

(The Castle of the Beautiful Maid)

  • Όλα τα κάστρα τα είδα ⬥ All the castles I have seen, not one have I not visited vr' amán amán, not one have I not visited, oh maid Frankish, maiden Greek. But like Beauty's Castle I have seen no other, frankish maid in the Frankish gown. With silver doors [...]
Εξώφυλλο 2 DVD Τα Αποκριάτικα με τη Δόμνα Σαμίου
  • SongDodecanesePatmosBawdy Song, Carnival Song

An Old Man Was Approaching (Explicit)

  • Ένας γέρος ηρκουντάνε   The song has explicit lyrics, and you can watch the video on YouTube if you're over 18. ⬥ An old man -yes, an old man, an old man was approaching, an old man was approaching, his prick was hanging down– it wasn’t so much hanging down [...]
Τραγούδια του γάμου
  • SongEastern AegeanLesvos, MandamadosWedding Song

Bless Us, Christ and Holy Mary (2)

  • Έλα Χριστέ και Παναγιά (2) ⬥ Studio recording, 2008. Domna Samiou taped the song in Mandamados, Lesvos, sung by a group of women, in 1965.
d20
  • SongCentral GreeceAttiki, MegaraGreat Lent Song, Ritual Song

Carnival Is Ended Now

  • Περάσαν οι Αποκριές ⬥ Why, Carnival is ended now, and Cheese-week’s past as well and, gracious me, the Lenten fast, the Lenten fast’s with us. The Lenten fast’s upon us now, a fast of seven weeks. Come close to me, I will not come, for I am young and am [...]
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Records

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  • AlbumDigital release, DVD2009Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Carnival Songs with Domna in Thessaloniki (Live)

This recorded show includes stage performances of carnival songs and other related popular rituals from different areas of Greece, as they were presented at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall on the 4th of March 2003. Watch the songs in a PlayList on YouTube.
d21
  • AlbumCD, Digital release1999Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Domna Samiou At Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall

This CD contains the live recording of the tribute concert for Domna Samiou’s seventieth birthday, at The Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall, in 1998. Some of her closest friends and collaborators were invited as guests: Lykourgos Angelopoulos, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, and the distinguished Turkish musicians Fahrettin Çimenli and Volkan […]
d24
  • AlbumDVD2007Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Domna Samiou Sings Songs of Nature and of Love

This videotaped stage performance, held at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on 11th of October 2005, includes songs and rituals related to the cycle of the agricultural year, rewarding human labour and telling of man’s relationship to nature.
d20
  • AlbumCD, Digital release1998Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Easter Songs

This significant edition aims to convey the spirit of Easter, the Christian feast celebrated amidst the glory and promise of springtime, through the selected rituals of that period of the year and their related sacred songs and tunes. (barcode: 5204910000524)
d32
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2017Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Epic Songs of Warriors and Heroes

The publication includes 30 songs, inspired by the popular tradition of story-telling, relating tales of brave warriors, both high-ranked lords, and lowly soldiers. Centering on heroic Digenis, they originate from all parts of Greece. The publication also contains a detailed booklet analyzing the history surrounding the songs, and their interpretation. […]
d27
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2008Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Folk Fables in Song

In fables, fragments of ancient myths are preserved. On this CD, Domna Samiou & her collaborators sing tales of the fabulous and the fantastic combining the real world with the supernatural and narrating stories, often tragic, which might once have occurred – or could do so one day – however […]
d19
  • AlbumCD, Digital release1995Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Kaneloriza

This CD includes songs and tunes in ‘7 beats to the bar’ (the rhythm of kalamatianos dances) and in ‘9 beats to the bar’ (the rhythm of zeibekikos and karsilamas dances) with lyrics and melodies both erotic and sorrowful. (barcode: 5204910000425)
Τα παλαιά μου βάσανα
  • AlbumDigital release2022Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

My Old Torments

Songs of Asia Minor by Domna Samiou. Live recording from the concert ‘Songs of Asia Minor with Domna Samiou’ at the Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall, on 8/3/2005. Traditional songs from the western coasts of Asia Minor, Propontis, Constantinople, Pontus and Cappadocia.
d24
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2006Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Of Nature and of Love

Through these songs, Domna Samiou pays tribute to how man, in years gone by, worshipped nature as the measure of ultimate beauty, order and harmony, and treated it with awe rather than with the destructive fury of today. The down-to-earth love of nature in these folk songs doesn’t derive from […]
d23
  • AlbumCD, Digital release2002Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Songs of Dame Sea

The wealth of Greek traditional music has been enriched by every aspect of maritime tradition – by its values, virtues and charm – as is amply demonstrated by this wonderful collection of songs. They embrace the ways people have sung, since Ulysses, about the temptations of the sea, its risks, […]
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Concerts

s421
  • Concert
  • 04/03/2003

Carnival Songs with Domna Samiou

A carnival feast at the stage of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall with songs, dances, and customs of the carnival period. In addition to Domna and her collaborators, musicians, singers, dancers and bands from regions of Greece take part, where even today the celebrations and rituals of Carnival maintain their authenticity.
s404
  • Concert
  • 11/10/2005

Domna Samiou Sings Songs of Nature and of Love

Traditional songs and events that follow the course of the cycle of the year. Starting from the autumn, which marks the beginning of the working and ecclesiastical year, a harvest revival, events of the twelve days of Christmas, Easter festivities, Saint John of Kledon customs, and summer festive events.
Ελληνικά κάλαντα
  • Concert
  • 26-29/12/1996

Greek Carols

Carols and songs at the stage of the Megaron the Athens Concert Hall. A special Christmas event. The concerts were part of the ‘Christmas Celebrations’ series and were given on December 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of 1996. Lambros Liavas was in charge of the music research and artistic supervision.
Μικρασιάτικα τραγούδια με τη Δόμνα Σαμίου
  • Concert
  • 08 & 09/03/2005

Songs of Asia Minor with Domna Samiou

An Asia Minor tribute concert. A tribute to the muse of the historical space of the Greek East. Traditional songs from the western coast of Asia Minor, the Propontis, Constantinople, Pontus and Cappadocia and two Byzantine hymns from the musical tradition of the Orthodox Church. A musical variety that is […]
s385
  • Concert
  • 29/10/1998

The Known and the Unknown Domna

A great concert called ‘The known and unknown Domna’, part of the series ‘Bridges’; a tribute concert for her seventieth birthday. Some of her closer friends and collaborators were invited as guests: Lykourgos Angelopoulos, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Eleftheria Arvanitaki as well as the two distinguished Turkish musicians Fahrettin Çimenli and Volkan […]
SEE MORE