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Nikos
Xilouris
THE
LEGEND
OF
CRETAN MUSIC
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A historic date it is: the 7th July 1936. Not a soul at the village of
Anoghia could have foreseen the magnificent twists and turns in the life of a boy born there and then. That boy was none other than Nikos
Xilouris, who manifested brilliant inclination to local folk music from early childhood. He acquired his first lyre at the age of twelve and was soon to become a singer and instrument player much sought after in all major social events: weddings, christenings, etc. He was hardly 17 years of age when N. Xylouris started performances at “Kastro” folk music-restaurant in Heraklion.
| As a fledgling professional artist things were difficult for him, he admitted: “… the highland villages of Crete were impregnable to foreign sounds, whereas in
Iraklion people danced to the music of tango, waltz, rumba, and samba. Of course, we could not do otherwise but learn this music and play it at festivals and social events. Necessity breeds compliance and settlement of bills could hardly wait. However, we tried at the same time to turn people’s preferences to Cretan music”. |
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N.
Xilouris’ major turning points in his life and career started with a recording in 1958. He first performed outside Greece in1966 to win the first prize in the San Remo folk music festival. In 1967 he established the first Cretan Music Hall, “Erotocritos”, in the town of Heraklion. The recording of “Anyfantou” song in 1969 was a “blockbuster”. Following this, N.
Xilouris started performances in Athens, at the “Konaki” folk music hall. In September of the same year, he established himself permanently in Athens.
In the summer of 1970 Nikos Xylouris and the director of COLUMBIA records established a firm business relationship strengthened with the ties of bestmanship in Nikos’ wedding at
Anogia. This relationship also set folk Cretan music on a dynamic course, which was long overdue in spite of the fact that Cretan folk music was never short of eminent performers.
N. Xilouris and Yiannis Markopoulos first cooperated at “Chronico” club and in May 1971 they performed together in “Ledra” club at Plaka. During the period of dictatorship in Greece, the voice of
Xilouris inspired hope and resistance actions: “Pote tha kaneis xasteria”, “Agrimia ki agrimakia mou” … were songs that forged the public resolve for restitution of democratic institutions. N. Xylouris extended his cooperation to other artists: Stavros Xarhakos and Christos Leontis. In the summer of 1973 Tzeni Karezi, Kostas Kazakos and N. Xylouris staged at “Athenaion” a performance, “Our Great Circus”, a kind of historical itinerary of modern Greece.
The voice of Nikos Xylouris in such songs as “Filedem”, “Pramateutis” and “Messopelaga armenizo” span the world many times round: from one Greek community to another.
However, these were his swan songs. On February 8, 1980 Nikos Xylouris died at the age of 44 having succumbed to cancer. There is no doubt that he was at the pinnacle of his success, and his fans around the world hold a grudge against fate for being so cruel.
Although it has been more than twenty years since his death, the voice of Nikos
Xilouris has found a warm place in the hearts of all Cretans around the world. By singing his songs, people
honor his legacy and keep the flame of Cretan virtues alive.
PANTELIS
GIAITSIS
Full
article (in Greek) In STIGMES issue no 72
Order
securely Nikos Xilouris
cd's from Creta Shop
Live
recording at Lycabettus Theatre in memory of the the Great Cretan musician
Nikos Androulakis, Anichti Thalassa, Christos Thiveos, Manolis Lidakis, Giannis
Xilouris, Giorgis Xilouris, Eleftheria Xilouri, Niki Xilouri, Miltos Pashalidis,
Vasilis Stavrakakis, Hainides, Yannis Haroulis, Psarantonis
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