Mathios Balabanis

[1912-1987]. Self-taught musician, born in Istanbul. He played the goblet drum, the daouli (davul), and all the traditional percussion instruments.

He participated in the recordings of more than ten thousand songs, and took part in more than a thousand musical programs and events. He died in 1987.

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

© Domna Samiou Archive

Songs

Farewell, Holy One
  • SongAsia MinorSmyrna, BaindiriLove SongCouplets

Aman Gel Aman

  • Αμάν γκελ αμάν ⬥ Studio recording (1973). Domna Samiou learned the song from her mother, Maria.
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • SongThessalyMagnesia, KeramidiHistorical Song, National Legends and Laments

Amidst Three Seas

  • Ανάμεσα τρεις θάλασσες ⬥ Studio recording (1980). Based on Domna Samiou's field recording in 1976, in Keramidi, Magnesia, sung by Aglaia Houtzoumi.
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • SongSporadesSkiathosFable Song (Ballad), Ritual Song

Arta’s Βridge

  • Της Άρτας το γεφύρι ⬥ A team of forty stonemasons and sixty prentice workers were putting up a bridge across the river close by Arta. The whole day long they built the bridge, at night it was dismantled. A bird, a kindly bird, chirped up and counselled them as follows: [...]
Songs of Asia Minor 2
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Balos from Alatsata

  • Αλατσατιανός μπάλος ⬥ Start, sweet tongue of mine, and remember, my lips, And you, poor heart, tell what you know.  Of songs and commendations I also know a few But my modest tongue will not let me say them.  The feet support the body, the head sagacity. And the tongue [...]
Souravli – Greek Flutes and Pipes
  • SongAsia MinorSmyrnaInstrumental

Balos from Smyrna

  • Σμυρναίικος μπάλος ⬥ A tune from Smyrna (Asia Minor), based on the rhythm of a light-hearted, lilting couple's dance in 2/4 meter – the well-known balos, which is particularly popular in the islands. Recorded in 1974.
Dance (With Wooden Spoons)
  • SongCappadocia / KonyaKonya, SilleInstrumental

Dance (With Wooden Spoons)

  • Studio recording (1991). The kanun master Nikos Stefanidis, originally from Konya, taught the tune to Domna Samiou and her musicians.
Farewell, Holy One
  • SongThraceLove Song

Down at Rhodes

  • Κάτου στα Ρόδα ⬥ Studio recording (1973).
I See Some Ships Approaching Port
  • SongCyclades, Eastern AegeanFable Song (Ballad)

Down on the Sandy Beach

  • Κάτω στο γιαλό ⬥ Studio recording (1980). One of the most popular songs from the islands. In Paros, it is danced with balos steps, while in Kea it is performed as a syrtos.
Farewell, Holy One
  • SongMacedoniaChalkidiki, IerissosFable Song (Ballad), Ritual Song

Forty Five Craftsmen

(Arta's Βridge)

  • Σαράντα πέντε μάστοροι ⬥ Studio recording (1973). Based on Domna Samiou's 1972 field recording in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yannis Tsirigotis, Eleni Tsirigoti, Alexandra Roumelianaki, Yiorgos Tzitzos and Yannis Migdis.
By the Flowering Oleander
  • SongCycladesNaxosLove SongCouplets

From Your Sweet Eyes

  • Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια ⬥ Studio recording (1975).
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Records

By the Flowering Oleander
  • AlbumLP1976EMIAΛ Columbia

By the Flowering Oleander

Another 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. In 2008 it was included […]
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. It combines an aesthetically meticulous edition with accurate interpretations and perfect recordings. The song 'Farewell Holy One' has been sung and danced so many times all around Greece and abroad that has been […]
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

On this CD, Domna Samiou presents songs and dances she recorded among refugees of Asia Minor: heartfelt interpretations dedicated to Baindiri, Domna’s hometown in Asia Minor. The CD includes songs from two previous LPs, 'Songs of Asia Minor 1 and 2'. (barcode: 5204910000128)  
Souravli – Greek Flutes and Pipes
  • AlbumLP1974EMIAΛ Columbia

Souravli – Greek Flutes and Pipes

This 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. In 1975 it was released in France by 'Arion' under the title 'Les flutes Grecques'. In 1977 it was republished in Greece in the […]
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
  • Concert
  • 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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