The Athenians

Rebetika & Greek Popular Music The Athenians

Rebetika is a type of Greek urban blues - bouzouki music, influenced by oriental elements. The lyrics reflect poverty, pain, oppression, unrequited love, and bitterness. Greek popular music as we know it today is original folk music enriched by modern elements. This album showcases both types of Greek music performed by The Athenians, a group that originated in 1977 and enjoyed many years of success in sold-out concert halls as they developed their musical repertoire. They not only rendered masterful interpretations of Theodorakis' music, but were equally acquainted with the compositions of other Greek composers such as Stavros Xarchakos, Manos Hatzidakis, Manos Loizos, and others. Their repertoire encompass contemporary songs and Greek popular music that has come into existence as original folk music and has been enriched by modern elements and thus developed into this genre.