(1915-2005) Kleoniki Tzoanaki, née Kourepini, was born in Chios island, during a persecution from her homeland of Alatsata in Erythrae, where she returned in 1919. After the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, her family settled in Chios and later in Nea Erythraea, Attica, where she lived until the end of her life, in 2005.
She was well versed in her homeland’s musical tradition, she sang, danced and played the goblet drum. Domna Samiou met her in 1976 in Nea Erythraea and collected many songs from her, such as Ataris, Yatzilariani, Yioryitsa (Songs of Asia Minor).
She collaborated in several recordings and appeared in several concerts of songs from Asia Minor. Her discography includes the records “Tragoudia kai choroi apo Alatsata kai tin Erythraea tis M. Asias” [“Songs and dances from Alatsata and Erythrae in Asia Minor”] (Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Athens, 1991), “Tragoudi stis akres tou Ellinismou” [“Song at the ends of Hellenism”] (pr. Lambros Liavas, 1992), “Tragoudia kai choroi apo ti Smyrni kai tin Erythraea tis M. Asias” [“Songs and dances from Smyrna and Erythrae in Asia Minor”] (Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Athens, 1994).
Source: Theodor Kondaras, Nea Erythraea, Attica.
