PSARANTONIS:
THE LYRE IS
THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD
For many
years Psarantonis, one of the greatest Greek traditional music artists,
has expressed the desire to give a concert at Herodus Atticus Theatre
but some short-sighted bureaucrats wouldn't give him the permission. He
finally managed to perform there this summer, and the magic notes of his
lyre flooded the ancient theatre. Psarantonis shares with STIGMES
readers his thoughts about contemporary Cretan music, the concerts he
has given abroad, his childhood in his hometown of Anogia, the lyre,
which he characterizes "the instrument of God" and also the current
critical situation of our country
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Just when I felt that the interview of Psaradonis was over, he insisted
of telling me the story of how the very first lyre was created,
stressing out that this is history and not a tale. ”As Zeus was
getting down from Psiloritis and the Idaion Cave, a shepherd saw him and
invited him to get into his “mitato” (=stone construction used by Cretan
shepherds) to get some rest. He gave him fresh water, sheep milk and
cheese. Then Zeus says to the shepherd that he will make an instrument
for him, in return for his hospitality, a very special instrument with
which he would be able to enchant animals, birds and humans alike. Zeus
then took out of his “vourgia” (=backpack) a turtle shell, some leather
strips, a goat horn, some chords made of sheep intestines and a fiddle
made of goat hair and made the first lyre. As the God walked away, the
shepherd sounded his new instrument to honor his new friend. From then
on he traveled all over Crete, showing to Cretans how to play it. The
lyre was created in Crete and not in the East as I have heard some
say...”
LINA LAGOUDIANAKI - photo Giannis Bromoirakis
Read the full
interview (in Greek) in STIGMES
issue no 115
Search for Psarantoni's music at Creta Shop
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