Stefanos Vartanis

(1922-1989) Born in Smyrna and died in Athens. He was a folk violinist, a composer, and a singer of rebetika and folk songs.

He had participated in numerous concerts and musical events, as well as in albums of many prominent artists. A list of his albums, personal and in collaboration, includes Dyo foties (1975), Kaigomai, kaigomai (1978), Laika diamantia (1981), Rebetikoi kaimoi (1981).

In Domna Samiou’s Archive, there is a personal narration of Stefanos Vartanis that took place in 1978.

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Stefanos Vartanis

Narration to Domna Samiou. Athens 1978

© Domna Samiou Archive

Source: Domna Samiou’ s Archive

Songs

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  • SongThessalyMagnesia, KeramidiHistorical Song, National Legends and Laments

Amidst Three Seas

  • Ανάμεσα τρεις θάλασσες ⬥ Studio recording, 1980. Domna Samiou taped the song in Keramidi, Magnesia, sung by Aglaia Houtzoumi, in 1976.
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  • SongCarnival Song

An Old Woman, an Old Gran

  • Μια γριά μπαμπόγρια ⬥ Studio recording, 1980.
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  • 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: [...]
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  • SongDodecaneseKastellorizoLove Song

Gone with My Scarf

  • Έφκε με το μαντίλι μου ⬥ Studio recording, 1980.
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  • SongInstrumental

Hassaposerviko

  • Χασαποσέρβικος
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  • SongCentral GreeceFable Song (Ballad)

I Am a Fisherman’s Son

  • Εγώ ’μαι ’νους ψαρά παιδί ⬥ Studio recording, 1980. Domna Samiou taped the song in Kymi, Euboea, sung by Μr. Papantoniou, in 1976.
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  • SongSporadesSkiathosLove Song

I See Some Ships Approaching Port

  • Βλέπω καράβια κι έρχονται ⬥ I see some ships approaching port, how beautiful they seem to me, ships that sail across the waters, rending my faint heart asunder. The one sails on a south wind, help, o Christ and Holy Mary, another on a north wind, white sails filled and [...]
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  • SongEpirusLove Song

I’ll Be the Basil by Your Window

  • Βασιλικός θα γίνω ⬥ I’ll be the basil by your window, I’ll stay unwed for your sake. Come, come to me and I’ll fill you with glee. Come to the window, not a word to your mum, mid pretend to water your marjoram. By the end of July with you [...]
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  • SongPeloponneseLove Song, Wedding SongProcessional Tune

Let My Eyes Go See

  • Ας πα να δουν τα μάτια μου ⬥ Let my eyes go see for themselves how my love spends her days, lest she’s found another and fallen in love and left me. Who said that, my dark-haired one, who said I didn't love you? If it was the sun, may [...]
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  • SongThraceLove Song, Spring SongCouplets

May

  • Λεν ήρθι Μάης κι Άνοιξη ⬥ May’s come, May’s come and spring, summer’s come when the perfumed roses bloom. I’ve a white rose I want to dye and if I get the shade just right, many a heart will I smite. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
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Records

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.
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  • 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 […]
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  • 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', […]
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Concerts

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  • 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.
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