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Pidikhtos (Greek : πηδηχτός), is a Greek folk dance with Cretan origin, dancing in a circle formation. It is very widespread in Crete and the Greek islands. [1]
The music of Greece is as diverse and celebrated as its history. Greek music separates into two parts: Greek traditional music and Byzantine music. These compositions have existed for millennia: they originated in the Byzantine period and Greek antiquity; there is a continuous development which appears in the language, the rhythm, the structure and the melody. Music is a significant aspect of Hellenic culture, both within Greece and in the diaspora.
The vast majority of the inhabitants of the United States are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. This article will focus on the music of these communities and discuss its roots in countries across Africa, Europe and Asia, excluding only Native American music, indigenous and immigrant Latinos, Puerto Rican music, Hawaiian music and African American music. The music of Irish- and Scottish-Americans will be a special focus, due to their extreme influence on Appalachian folk music and other genres. These sorts of music are often sustained and promoted by a variety of ethnic organizations.
This is an alphabetical index of articles related to dance.
"Zorba's Dance" is an instrumental by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. The music is part of the soundtrack for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek, and used in the film to accompany the dance known as sirtaki. It is now commonly played and danced to in Greek tavernas. The film's track has since been recorded as a standalone song by many different musicians from around the world.
The Pentozali or Pentozalis is the trademark folk dance of the island of Crete. It takes its name from the fifth (pente) attempt or step of the Cretan people to liberate Crete from the Ottoman Empire. It can thus be translated as "five-steps". The name also contains an element of wordplay, as ‘ζάλη’ means dizziness, and so it may also be interpreted as a dance that can make its dancers dizzy five times over ("five-dizzy"). In fact the dance has ten steps in total.
The music of Crete, also called kritika (κρητικά), refers to traditional forms of Greek folk music prevalent on the island of Crete in Greece. Cretan traditional music includes instrumental music, a capella songs known as the rizitika, "Erotokritos," Cretan urban songs (tabachaniotika), as well as other miscellaneous songs and folk genres.
Odes is an album of Greek folk songs by Irene Papas and Vangelis. All of the songs are traditional, except two which are original compositions by Vangelis. Recorded in Nemo studios, London 1979, the entirety of the album is performed and produced by Vangelis, with the addition of a five-people choir in the opening track and of course, Irene Papas' lead vocals. First issue of the album on compact disc was in Greece only . A remastered edition was released by Universal Music in 2007.
Greek traditional music includes a variety of Greek styles played by ethnic Greeks in Greece, Cyprus, Australia, the United States and other parts of Europe. Apart from the common music found generally in Greece, each region of Greece contains a distinct type of folk music that originated from the region due to their history, traditions and cultural influences.
Alekos Karavitis was a Cretan lyra player.
Syrtos is a traditional Greek dance in which the dancers link hands to form a chain or circle, headed by a leader who intermittently breaks away to perform improvised steps.
Nisiotika are the songs and dances of the Aegean islands with a variety of styles. Outside of Greece, it is played in the diaspora in countries such as Turkey, Australia, the United States and elsewhere.
The bacchu-ber, derived from Occitan bau cubèrt, is a traditional folk dance performed with swords. This dance takes place in the district of Pont-de-Cervières, city of Briançon. Its origin dates back to many centuries ago. This folk dance is unique in France and is one of the rare sword dances that have stood the test of time. It is performed once a year on 16 August, day of Saint Roch (1340–1379), patron of the Pont-de-Cervières district. Similar shows are performed on the Italian side of the Cottian Alps, notably in San Giorio, Fenestrelle and Giaglione villages.
Greek musical instruments were grouped under the general term "all developments from the original construction of a tortoise shell with two branching horns, having also a cross piece to which the stringser from an original three to ten or even more in the later period, like the Byzantine era". Greek musical instruments can be classified into the following categories:
Ntames, is a Cretan folk dance from Rethymno, Greece. It is very widespread in Crete. It is danced by couples.
Kanella, is a Cretan folk dance from Rethymno, Greece. It is very widespread in Crete. It is danced in a circle and is a variation to the siganos dance. The name of the dance is derived from the song.
Katsabadianos, is a folk dance with Cretan origin. It is very widespread in Heraklion and Chania.
Ntournerakia, is a Cretan folk dance from Rethymno, Greece. It is based on the Greek folk dance "chasaposervikos" and is widespread in Crete. The name comes from the song "Ntournerakia", by Kostas Mountakis.
Tsiniaris, is a circle Cretan folk dance from Agios Vasileios, Crete, Greece. It is usually danced by older local persons and is very widespread in Rethymno.
Six chansons pour piano is a short piano suite and one of the earliest completed compositions by Greek composer Iannis Xenakis. It was composed between 1950 and 1951 and dedicated to Bernard Le Floc'h.
Françoise Sullivan LL.D is a Canadian painter, sculptor, dancer, choreographer and photographer whose work is marked by her ability to switch from one discipline to another.