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Μπάλος
Characteristic island dance, recorded in August 1965 with Stathis Koukoularis on violin and Giannis Livaditis on santouri. Even then, it was clear that Koukoularis would become one of the foremost island violinists. Livaditis, a remarkable santouri player, had known fame in earlier years, but when I met him (in 1965), he was already advanced in age — poor and forgotten. The fate of the musician…
Domna Samiou (1997)
At that time, we went to great lengths to find authentic performers of each region’s songs, so that we could feature them on the radio or in recordings. I remember once jumping hastily off a trolleybus, long before reaching my stop, because I had heard something that might be of interest. It must have been Christmas of 1964. I had just left the radio station where I worked —4 Rigillis Street then— and was walking up Irodotou Street. At the corner of Kapsali and Irodotou there was a grocery store. From inside came the sound of instruments and voices singing carols. The sound drew me in… It was a group from Thessaly visiting some fellow countrymen to sing the carols for them. I went inside, pretended to be shopping, and when they finished, I approached them, spoke to them, and invited them to come for a recording. So, I recorded with them then a series of Thessalian songs on small discs.
Domna Samiou (1995)
Studio recording (1965). Released on a 45 rpm disc (Lyra LS 1100, 1965), supervised by Domna Samiou.
