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Καρσιλαμάς
The karsilamas is a face-to-face dance. As a traditional dance —mainly performed at weddings— it exists in many regional variations throughout Greece. The rhythm is consistently in 9/8 time, typically divided as 3+2+2+2 for slower, more grounded versions, and 2+2+2+3 for livelier, lighter interpretations. The slow karsilamas shares close affinities with the zeibekiko, and in recent years, both dances have been adapted to urban settings, aligning with the instruments, songs, and audiences of rebetika and modern Greek popular music.
The melody is from the Karsilamas Dance from Marmara that Domna Samiou recorded in 1982 in Neos Marmaras, Chalkidiki, sung by a women’s choir. That version is included in the LP Songs of Asia Minor 1.
Miranda Terzopoulou (2018)
Studio recording (1997).
Violin
Constantinopolitan lute
Goblet drum
Zil bells
