Cretan Music

Music in Crete is an integral part of life on the island. The main instruments are the lyra, similar to violin, the mandolino (mandolin) and the laouto (lute).

A form for musical expression is the mandinades, couplets of 30 syllables that reflect the fate of life, love and death. These are usually improvised songs; the musicians try to outdo each other when they meet at festivals.

The rizitika is another music form which is centuries old, based on love songs from the Byzantine Empire. There are two types of rizitika – “tis tavlas” (table), which is played at feasts and “tis stratas” (round) which accompany travellers. Many of the songs are about history and heroes. The most famous one is about the hero from Sfakia, Daskalogiannis who fought against the Turks in 1770, the song has an impressive 1034 verses.

Crete has many fine musicians, the composer of who “pays the ferryman”, Giannis Markopoulos. Also the late Nikos Xylouris, who was very popular and still is, and Vassillis Skoulas are just three of many who keep the Cretan music alive today.

Dance

Besides its own traditional folk dances, Crete has many folk dances from the mainland. Many of the dances are derived from ritual dances performed in ancient Greece. The dance Syrtos which is often depicted on Greek vases, are danced in a ring formation this is to ward of evil spirits. Male dancers love to dance the pendozalis, which includes leaping to a fast musical beat. Other dances include Sousta, Kastrinos and maleviziotikos.