THANASSIS
SKORDALOS
The
last interview of a Great Master
In
April 1998
Crete
bidded farewell to
Thanasis Skordalos. Only to his body though, because his soul, this so
authentic soul will always stand by our side, when referring to Cretan
music. Born in 1920 in Spilj (Rethimnon), a lyre player only nine years
later, Skordalos has dedicated the next 65 years of his life to his
favourite instrument. And the lyre wasn’t ungrateful to him. |
 |
|
The
instrument and the artist wrote together a great part of contemporary
Cretan musical history. I had the honour to speak with Thanassis
Skordalos for his last interview in 1997. We met at the cafe
"Balkans", a place he loved to go in the last years of his
life. There I met the Master and the person Skordalos, coming to know
all his visions and passions.
I
remember him smoking one cigarette after the other, aware of the end
coming: “I will go
soon, but young Cretans should never stop to serve and protect our
island’s tradition” he told me. Skordalos wasn’t only one of the
most important performers
and composers in Cretan music, he was also a great man. And really
great men don’t show up in offices and benches they live on our side,
between us… |
