Mathios Balabanis

(1912–1987) | He was born in 1912 in Constantinople and was a self-taught musician. He played goblet drum, davul, and various other traditional percussion instruments.

Throughout his career, he participated in more than ten thousand recorded songs and took part in over fifteen hundred music broadcasts and performances. His contribution was pivotal in preserving and widely promoting the traditional musical heritage in Greece.

He passed away in 1987.

 

 

Listen to Mathios Balabanis in a goblet drum solo (1981)

Concert at the “Nea Poria” theatre, 1973
Concert at the “Nea Poria” theatre, 1973
Themistocles Angelis (violin), Kyriakos Kostoulas (clarinet), Domna Samiou, Stavros Adrianos (oud), Mathios Balabanis (goblet drum)

© Domna Samiou Archive

Songs

Farewell, Holy One
  • SongAsia Minor (Western Coast)Smyrna, BaindiriLove SongCouplets

Aman Gel Aman

  • Αμάν, γκελ αμάν ⬥ Karsilamas from Baïndiri, Smyrna, the ancestral home of Domna Samiou’s family. Recorded in 1973.
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • SongThessalyMagnesia, KeramidiHistorical Song, National Legends and Laments

Amidst Three Seas

  • Ανάμεσα τρεις θάλασσες ⬥ Historical legend about the building of Hagia Sophia from Keramidi, Magnesia, with Domna Samiou. Recorded in 1980.
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • SongSporades IslandsSkiathosFable Song (Ballad), Ritual Song

Arta’s Βridge

  • Της Άρτας το γεφύρι ⬥ Fable song (ballad), a dance song from Skiathos with Yiorgos Bagiokis. Recorded in 1980.
Songs of Asia Minor 2
  • SongAsia Minor (Western Coast)Erythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Balos from Alatsata

  • Αλατσατιανός μπάλος ⬥ Love couplets from Alatsata, Erythraea, with Kleoniki Tzoanaki. Recorded in 1984.
Souravli – Greek Flutes and Pipes
  • SongAsia Minor (Western Coast)SmyrnaInstrumental

Balos from Smyrna

  • Σμυρναίικος μπάλος ⬥ Instrumental dance tune from Smyrna with Alekos Pavlou-Arapakis (violin). Recorded in 1974.
Dance (With Wooden Spoons)
  • SongCappadocia & KonyaKonya, SilleInstrumental

Dance (With Wooden Spoons)

  • Χορός κουταλιών ⬥ Instrumental dance tune from Sille, Konya, with Petros Athanasopoulos-Kalyvas (clarinet). Recorded in 1991.
Farewell, Holy One
  • SongThraceLove Song

Down at Rhodes

  • Κάτου στα Ρόδα ⬥ Dance song from Thrace with Apostolos Kakalis. Recorded in 1973.
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • SongCyclades, Eastern Aegean

Down on the Sandy Beach

  • Κάτω στο γιαλό ⬥ Dance song from the Cyclades with a choir and Antonis Spanos (tsambouna). Recorded in 1980.
Farewell, Holy One
  • SongMacedoniaChalkidiki, IerissosFable Song (Ballad), Ritual Song

Forty Five Craftsmen

(Arta's Βridge)

  • Σαράντα πέντε μάστοροι ⬥ Easter dance song from Ierissos, Chalkidiki. Recorded in 1973.
By the Flowering Oleander
  • SongCycladesNaxosLove SongCouplets

From Your Sweet Eyes

  • Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια ⬥ Dance song from Naxos with Domna Samiou. Recorded in 1975.
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Records

By the Flowering Oleander
  • AlbumLP1976EMIAΛ Columbia

By the Flowering Oleander

A classic LP of Domna Samiou which brings together some of the masterpieces of Greek traditional folk music. It is a representative compilation of songs from different areas of Greece performed in an authentic way in respect of their lyrics, music and way of singing.
Farewell, Holy One
  • AlbumLP1974EMI Columbia

Farewell Holy One

One of Domna Samiou’s most characteristic LPs through which younger generations familiarized themselves with traditional folk music.
Four and Four
  • AlbumCD2018Caprice

Music from Greece: Domna Samiou

Reissue of the Caprice album “Grekisk folkmusik” (Ξενιτεμένο μου πουλí) on a CD with 9 extra tracks, and a comprehensively informative booklet about Greek folk music and the woman behind this production – Domna Samiou.
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • AlbumLP1980Zodiac

Perperouna

Domna’s first work for children came as a fulfilment of her constant aspiration to bring traditional folk songs closer to children –especially those living in the cities. Some of these sixteen traditional songs, with their ‘easy’ melodies, uplifting rhythms and amusing lyrics, were anyway sung by children –like ‘Perperouna’, ‘Chelidonisma’, […]
Songs of Asia Minor 2
  • AlbumDigital release, LP1984Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Songs of Asia Minor 1

On this LP, Domna Samiou presents songs and dances she recorded among refugees of Asia Minor: heartfelt interpretations dedicated to Baindiri, Domna’s hometown in Asia Minor. This LP marked the founding of the Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association.
Songs of Asia Minor 2
  • AlbumDigital release, LP1991Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Songs of Asia Minor 2

On this LP, Domna Samiou presents songs and dances she recorded among refugees of Asia Minor: heartfelt interpretations dedicated to Baindiri, Domna’s hometown in Asia Minor. This LP complements ‘Songs of Asia Minor N° 1’ published in 1984.
Songs of Asia Minor 2
  • AlbumCD, Digital release1992Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Songs οf Asia Minor

Domna Samiou presents songs and dances she recorded among refugees of Asia Minor: heartfelt interpretations dedicated to Baindiri, Domna’s hometown in Asia Minor.
Souravli – Greek Flutes and Pipes
  • AlbumLP1974EMIAΛ Columbia

Souravli – Greek Flutes and Pipes

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.
My Precious (Tzivaeri)
  • AlbumLP1972Lyra

Travelling in Greece with Domna Samiou

Domna Samiou had the general musical supervision of this important LP including twelve songs most of which are interpreted by her accompanied by local traditional musicians. As in all previous LPs, the songs are representative of all areas of Hellenism and are performed without any alteration in lyrics or music.
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Concerts

The First Concerts
  • Συναυλία
  • 1971-1973

The First Concerts

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”.
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