Aristides Vassilaris

(1932–2013) | A virtuoso of the flogera (traditional flute), the pipiza, and the clarinet. He was born in Riolo, Achaia, into a musical family: his father was a master player of the zournas and his mother was a singer of traditional folk music — elements that shaped his connection with tradition from an early age.

He became closely associated with the traditional flogera, which he studied in great depth, even modifying its construction —expanding the original six finger holes to eight— thus broadening its expressive capabilities and establishing a style that later influenced the clarinet repertoire. He was regarded by many as the foremost teacher of the flogera, distinguished for his diligence, precision, and deep respect for older melodies.

He collaborated with Simon Karas and with leading musicians and singers of Greek folk, rebetiko, and art music, participating in numerous recordings, radio and television productions, as well as performances in Greece and abroad. He died in August 2013.

Songs

Records

LP is dedicated to Greek instrumental folk music and especially to wind instruments such as the different types of pipes: flute, mandoura, gaida, pipiza, gavala.

Concerts

Invited by Lina Lalandi, founder of the English Bach Festival and clavichordist, Domna Samiou made five appearances in the festival, presenting, in what could be the first time, the authentic traditional music of Greece to the English audience.
In 1971, in the midst of the military Junta period in Greece, Dionysis Savvopoulos convinced Domna to sing at the club “Rodeo”. In the following years, she performed at “Kyttaro” and “Rizes”.