Petros Athanasopoulos-Kalyvas

(1932-2012). Born in Agrinio, in Central Greece, into a musical family. Since 1952 he has been living in Athens. He is the older brother of Christos Athanasopoulos-Mortakis.

He plays various folk instruments, such as the clarinet, the flute, the lute, the oud, the zournas, and the goblet drum. His repertoire includes traditional songs of Smyrna (Izmir), of Thessaly, of Central Greece, and of Macedonia. For twenty years he worked with Vassilis Saleas. He has participated as a musician in numerous albums, as well as in radio and television shows. Moreover, he has taken part in musical events in Greece and abroad.

Sources: Yiorgos E. Papadakis' archive, the album Xenitemeno mou pouli (My immigrant bird)

Songs

d17
  • SongThessalyMagnesia, TrikeriFable Song (Ballad)

A Fair Trikeriotissa

  • Μια κόρη Τρικεριώτισσα ⬥ A fair Trikeriotissa, a comely Trikeri girl, is mistress of a silver loom that has an ivory heddle. As she spooled threads on reels of reed and softly sang a ballad, her goodman rode up to her door astride a coal-black stallion. – A greeting to [...]
d16
  • SongCentral GreeceAttikiLocal Song, Love SongCouplets, Processional Tune

A Walk in Sergiani

  • Σεργιάνι 'ναι στη Σεργιανή ⬥ Studio recording, 1986. Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
d32
  • SongCappadocia / KonyaAnakouAcritic Song

A Widow Bore a Child

(The Song of Porphyris)

  • Χήρα-ν παιδίν εγέννησε ⬥ A widow bore a child and called him Prosfylis, she bore him behind bars, she suckled him in a prison. Aged one, he took up a sword, aged two his spear, at three and four he leapt upon his mount, he leapt upon his mount and [...]
d17
  • SongPeloponneseImmigration Song

All Turn Their Gaze upon the Sun

  • Όλοι τον ήλιο τον τηρούν ⬥ All turn their gaze upon the sun that's on the point of setting, and yet the girl who's sore at heart is looking out to seaward. She sees some ships approach the shore, some boats that make towards it. – Good mother, look, four [...]
d14
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Ataris

  • Άταρης ⬥ I vowed to the Holy Virgin not to sing again. Ataris! But for your sake I will break the vow. Four! Once again four black eyes got up to dance. Ataris! Four eyebrows like silken cords, two cool, fresh bodies. Four! Translated by Mania Seferiades
d14
  • 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 [...]
d10
  • SongEpirusPogoniLove Song

By the Flowering Oleander

  • Στης πικροδάφνης τον ανθό. ⬥ Studio recording, 1975.
Χορός κουταλιών
  • SongCappadocia / KonyaKonya, SilleInstrumental

Dance (With Wooden Spoons)

  • Χορός κουταλιών
d14
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, MeliLove SongCouplets

Dimitroula

  • Δημητρούλα ⬥ You dance, my spoilt one, but I don't know who are you, from your stature you seem, scampish perivolaria, to be of noble birth. Go on, yiála, yiála, Dimitroúla! You didn't do well to shame me again in this neighbourhood. You dance, my spoilt one, and your father [...]
d19
  • SongAsia MinorSmyrna, BaindiriLove SongCouplets

Do Not Nurture Any Doubts

  • Υποψία να μην έχεις ⬥ Oh, do not nurture any doubts about my love for you. I feel quite lost when you are gone one hour from me. You are a garden, I a tender shoot, I can’t deny my love for you. From battlements I throw myself, I wish [...]
SEE MORE

Records

d16
  • AlbumLP1986Sirius

A Stroll with Domna Samiou

This is the product of an ‘alternative’ collaboration. After a personal invitation from Manos Hadjidakis, Domna Samiou publishes in Seiros this LP with songs which are for the first time brought together in a record. She thanks him 'for giving her the opportunity and freedom to present this audio material […]
d10
  • 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 […]
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. […]
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)
Music from Greece: Δομνα Σαμίου
  • 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.
d11
  • AlbumLP1980Caprice

My Emigrated Bird

The first LP by the state-run 'Concerts Sweden Rikskonserter' produced with non-Swedish musicians. Domna Samiou was chosen for her valuable contribution to traditional Greek folk music. The LP, documented by an extended trilingual booklet, came after a concert tour in sixteen Swedish cities in the summer of 1979 aiming to […]
d17
  • AlbumCD, Digital release1992UNHCR – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Songs About Greeks Far From Home

This CD, published by UNHCR with an informative booklet, includes sixteen songs narrating different aspects of migrating to foreign lands: departure and life in foreign lands; the lives of families left behind; death in foreign lands or a return home. It marks a new direction to Domna Samiou’s music publications: […]
d17
  • AlbumDigital release, LP1989UNHCR – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Songs About Greeks Far From Home (LP)

This LP includes nineteen songs narrating all the different aspects of migrating in foreign lands: the departure and the life to foreign lands, the life of the family left behind, death in these foreign lands or the return home. This publication of the UNHCR, with its informative accompanying booklet, introduces […]
d14
  • 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.
d14
  • 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.
SEE MORE

Concerts

s267
  • Concert
  • 1971-1980

Concerts at the English Bach Festival

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.
s111
  • Concert
  • 1978-1997

With Evgenios Spatharis in Shadow Theatre Performances

Performances with legendary shadow theatre artist Evgenios Spatharis, from Stockholm to the sidewalks of Marousi.
SEE MORE