Concert

It has taken me over two weeks to upload this video due to slow internet speeds on the island, but finally today the gods allowed my video to upload!

We were invited to a free concert at the church by the Greek archaeologist who oversees our field school. Churches in Greece are often used to hold secular community events. She told us that the music would be traditional Greek music sung by a choir, accompanied by bouzouki and piano. Of course we wanted to go to see live music although we realized we would not understand the lyrics. She promised to give us rough translations of the songs.

I realize that some of you may be unfamiliar with a bouzouki.  They are stringed instruments, like a guitar, with either three or four paired sets of strings. The body is pear shaped with a long neck, and the instrument is often decorated with ornate mother or pearl inlays.  You will hear the bouzouki quite prominently in this video.

During the introduction to the concert the lead singer told us that the songs would all be about love, past, present and future.  Which in Greece means they were bound to be very tragic and  dramatic.  

The concert started at 9:30 pm, with people of all ages in attendance, including many families with small children.  The courtyard of the church was packed with chairs, and there was standing room on the next floor above, looking down into the courtyard, as you will see in the photo.

As the concert began, we realized that everyone knew the words to these songs, even the small children.  People from the audience swayed, clapped their hands and sang their hearts out about lost love. It was quite a cozy intimate event, everyone packed into a small space enjoying the music and the soft summer wind.

The songs were very melancholy, and themes included staring at the moon pining for lost love, imploring someone to love you in your dreams, and the classic drowning your sorrows in alcohol over lost love.  No upbeat love songs, all dramatic sad songs, after all we are in Greece.

The choir is comprised of local Astypalaians who come together over love of music, they are not professional singers.  We recognized some of the singers.  One was the woman who directs the planes in with hand signals at the airport, one was the lady who works at the shoe store, and the best singer in the group was a port policewoman.  Two of the singers were cousins of the friend that we attended the concert with.

We had a great time, even though we had to stay up very late.  

Hope you enjoy this small clip.