Greece Culture: Music and Dance Grevena and surrounding areas

The region of Grevena to the north of Thessaly and just over the Pindos mountains from Ipiros to its west, favors dances such as the Tsamikos, Sta Tria an Syrtos/Kalamatianos, which reflect the music of its neighbors. Nonetheless, Greveniotika (music of Grevena) has a distinct sound, quite different from that of either of those adjacent regions. One of the unique features of this sound is the use of the violin , which often functions as a lead (and even solo) instrument rather than the clarinet which predominates elsewhere in the mainland regions already mentioned. One family, of gypsy origin, has dominated the music in the town of Grevena during many of the past decades, and younger members are carrying on the tradition.

North of Grevena

Some of the towns in this area are Kozani, Siatista, Ptolemaida and Florina. Here are found brass bands with such instruments as trombones, cornets and trumpets, and daouli with an attached snare. Clarinet is most often found in these bands, too. Brass instruments were introduced to the region by Turkish military bands during Ottoman rule. There are many local dances throughout this region. A dance widely done in the area between Kozani and Florina is called 'Gaida' , often danced with hands on shoulders, and, in its simplest form, resembling the sta tria or hasaposervikos. It begins slowly and gets very fast. Another much performed dance in this are is the Zaiko (or Za-ramo), the name describing the shoulder hold which the dance uses. Like Gaida, it starts slow and speed up, the fast part requiring a lot of stamina. The Baidouska is a dance in the asymmetrical rhythm of 5/8, and is executed different than in Thrace. Eleno Mome is a dance that is popular in all of Macedonia. Its obvious Slavic origin is accepted in Macedonia, though Greeks from other regions give the dance other names (Kori Eleni, Mikri Eleni, etc.) Yet another very popular dance in the area between Kozani and Florina is the Levendikos or Lytos, though referred to in local dialect as Pushcheno. In this area it is very 'pidikto' (or jumpy) , though in its simplest form resembles the syrtos. Its rhythm is 12/8.

Farther east

In the area that includes the towns of Edhessa, Yiannitsa, Naoussa and Veria, though brass bands are still used, the gaida (bagpipe) is also played as well as the zournas. There are many asymmetrical rhythms used here (9/8, 11/8, 12/8) , and many dances that begin slowly and speed up. Some of the common dances done in this area are Baidouska, Gaida, and Eleno Mome, though these dances may vary from place to place despite having the same names. Another dance which changes from place to place is variously called Trita Pata, Zavlistena and Saranda Penda (along with yet other names). Its rhythm is 7/8 and the dance begins slowly and then gets faster. The men's dance called Pousnitsa (and which has other names) is usually in a 7/8 rhythm, though there are recordings that have it in 5/8. Even though more than one man dances at a time, this is a solo dance, with demanding variations, the most difficult of which involves the dancer falling onto his knees (obviously needing great skill to avoid injury). Another dance that requires great skill (this time for a dancer in the lead position) is the Papadia (which means wife of the pappas, or Orthodox priest), with many leaps and squats which required close interaction between musicians and dancer.