Greek Folk Dance Music

Extract

This article surveys published recordings of Greek folk dance music and outlines their influence through time on musical and dance life. My aim is to present a brief historical review of such recordings and to discuss their relationship to dance music practice and to scholarly work. The various goals of separate consumer groups (such as scholars, musicians, teachers, pupils, ordinary listeners or villagers) and their corresponding criteria for selection will be further outlined. These conclusions stem from my longstanding and many-sided involvement with folk dance. My early experience was gained as a folk dance instructor (in a period when the gramophone record had just begun to replace the live ensemble) and in the kompania of folk musicians during lessons at the Lyceum Club of Greek Women (1967-1975). Later, I began my work as a field researcher for the preparation of folk music records for the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation (1974 to the present).