It would be impossible, of course, to even attempt to recount here the long story of the Greeks of Thrace, which began with the foundation of the first Greek colonies, between the 8th and the 6th century BC and which ended with the arbitrary seizure and annexation of Eastern Rumelia by Bulgaria, in 1885, and the persecutions and expulsion of the Greek population in 1906.
The refugees who settled in northern and central Greece brought with them little else beyond their ancient lore, their traditions, their songs and their dances, which they have cherished and handed down from generation to generation.
The present edition is centered on the dances and melodies of only two particular villages of Northern Thrace (Eastern Rumelia), namely those of Mikro kai Megalo Monastiri, the inhabitants of which are today settled in the village they have named Neo Monastiti, near Domokos, in Phthiotis.
1. Siko, koykoynada m’(Rise, my pet) (Syngathistos) 3.25
2. Zervodexos (Right and left) 2.15
3. Baidouska 2.37
4. S’tris 2.20
5. Petre, Petre (Sitting-down song - Zonaradikos) 4.38
6. Antikristos (Face-to-face dance) 2.44
7. Bogdanos 3.23
8. Milisso 2.20
9. Zervos 2.27
10. Kales Gamiles (Good camels) (Zonaradikos) 4.33
11. “Dividjidikos” (Syngathistos) 2.38
12. Maro (Bogdanos) 2.51
13. Ti sas leo, kortsoudia (What do I tell you, lassies) 4.37
14. Zonaradikos (Tsestos) 2.58
15. S’tris 2.25
16. Papia kathete ston pago (A duck sits on the ice) (Ζonaradikos) 3.09
17. “Dividjidikos” (Syngathistos) 3.35
18. Bogdanos - S’tris - Baidouska 6.41
19.Milisso 1.38
20. Zonaradikos (Tsestos) 4.32
21. T’ akous, mor’, Lenou (Did you hear this, Lenou) (Zonaradikos) 3.30
Violin: Stamatis Dimtsoudis (Neo Monastiri, 1938)
Shepherd’s pipe: Dimitris Itsoudis (Neo Monastiri, 1938)
Gaida (Bagpipes): Yiorgos Stouyiannoudis (Neo Monastiri, 1939-1993)
Daouli: Christos Mamaloudis (Megalo Monastiri, Volos, 1921) & Yiannis Prantsidis (Aiginion Pieria, 1946)
Recorded by: Y. Sigletos, L. Drandakis
Sponsored by: The I. PH. Costopoulos Foundation
