Theodoros Kekes

Theodoros Kekes (1924-2007) was born into a family of musicians in Kiani, a small village in Thrace. His father initiated him into the Thracian gaida when he was seven years old. At the age of sixteen he acquired his first gaida and began to play in the village square every Sunday and to be asked to play at weddings and festivals.

In 1961 he moved to Athens and stopped playing full-time. It was Domna Samiou who persuaded him to take up traditional music again.

He has presented the musical tradition of Thrace on the radio and has also played on television and in concerts both at home and abroad.

Songs

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  • SongThraceAcritic Song, Wedding Song

A Young and Gallant Soldier

  • Ένας άγουρος κι ένας καλός στρατιώτης ⬥ A young and gallant soldier Sought a citadel, a citadel. He sought a citadel, a village to stop at. He found none, no citadel. He found neither citadel nor village to stop at; He found, he found a tree. He found a tree, [...]
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  • SongThraceChristmas Carol, Ritual SongCarol

Christmas Song (Thrace)

  • Η μάνα που 'χει τουν ιγιό ♦ Studio recording, 1974.
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  • SongThraceAcritic Song

Digenes Is Dying

(The Death of Digenis)

  • Ο Διγενής ψυχομαχάει ⬥ Digenes, Digenes is giving up the ghost, my eyes, Digenes is dying my eyes are black, Digenes is dying. All the lords on learning of it, all hasten by. with apples and with plums, with fresh grapes. To his fair one he speaks, to his fair one he says: [...]
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  • SongThraceLove Song

Down at Rhodes

  • Κάτου στα Ρόδα ⬥ Studio recording, 1973.
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  • SongThraceInstrumental, Table Song

Gaida Solo

  • Εσείς βουνά, ψηλά βουνά ⬥An instrumental tune with “gaida”. Gaida is a three-tube bagpipe, not very different from the Scottish or Italian variety. The first tube (chanter or fingering tube) has seven openings in the front and one in the back for the thumb. The second tube is for the [...]
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  • SongThraceNew Year's Carol, Ritual SongCarol

Leaving the Noble Home (New Year Carol from Thrace)

  • Π' αυγινικό κι αν βγήκαμι ⬥ Studio recording, 1974.
Παλικάρια μου Ντερβενιώτικα
  • SongThrace

My Lads from Dervena

  • Παλικάρια μου Ντερβενιώτικα ⬥ Studio recording, 1966. Released in 45 rpm disc (Fidelity 7379, 1966) supervised by Domna Samiou.
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  • SongThraceInstrumental

Paidoushka

  • Παϊντούσκα ⬥ A popular dance tune from Thrace, recorded in 1974. Theodoros Kekes on the kaval and Mathios Balabanis on the goblet drum.
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  • SongThraceEpiphany Carol, Ritual SongCarol

Today Is Epiphany, Feast of Light (Thrace)

  • Σήμιρα τα Φώτα κι φουτισμός ⬥ Studio recording, 1974.
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  • SongThraceEvros, KyaniCarnival Song

What Am I, Poor Wretch, to Do

  • Τι να κάνω ο έρημος ⬥ What am I, poor wretch, to do with the wife I’ve got? In Jan’ry month and Feb’ry too she leads me off to harvest. I reaped the corn, I threshed the crop, despite the rain and snow, and as I stacked it up in [...]
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Records

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  • AlbumCD, Digital release1994Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Carnival Songs

The most famous publication of the Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association. These Carnival songs with their ritual bawdiness – ‘sacred in the profane’ – disturbed the prudish devotees of tradition. The recordings (on CD and double LP) come with a detailed booklet analysing the pagan and ritualistic context in […]
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  • AlbumDigital release, LP1994Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

Carnival Songs (LP)

The most famous publication of Domna Samiou’s Association. These ‘sacred in the profane’ songs of the Carnival with their ritual bawdiness disturbed the prudish ‘devotees’ of tradition. The records (in LP and CD) are accompanied by a detailed booklet analysing the pagan and ritualistic context in which these songs are […]
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  • Album1982Ocora

Chants des Akrites

Akritic songs, which are perceived as the oldest examples of Greek popular poetry, are inspired by the legends of Akrites’ lives and their fights in defence of the eastern borders of the Byzantine Empire. The LP was recorded by the French Radio, published in Ocora series and distributed along with […]
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  • 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 […]
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  • AlbumLP1974EMI Columbia

Greek Carols

The first LP in Greece dedicated to carolling songs performed during the religious celebrations of the Twelve Nights and of Easter. The carols were recorded in many different areas of Greece performed by local musicians and singers, thus preserving all the distinguishing local patterns and characteristics.
Μουσικό Οδοιπορικό 1959-1969
  • AlbumCD2008Universal

Mousiko Odiporiko 1959-1969

A collection of 127 traditional songs and tunes from all over Greece that were first released on 45 rpm records between 1959 and 1969 under the direction and musical supervision of Domna Samiou. The collection was compiled and edited by Yiorgos Tsampras.
Δισκογραφία 45 στροφών
  • Album45 RPM1959

Recordings in 45 RPM

Τραγούδια που κυκλοφόρησαν σε δίσκους 45 στροφών, την περίοδο 1959-1969, σε μουσική επιμέλεια Δόμνας Σαμίου.
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  • 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 […]
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  • AlbumCD, Digital release2007Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children

‘The Great North Wind ….’ is Domna Samiou’s second CD dedicated to her ‘young friends’. One of Domna’s main concerns is that, unless children are initiated in music, these songs will gradually disappear as time goes by. This CD is a good companion to those who want to offer their […]
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Concerts

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  • 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.
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  • 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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