Other performances will be given in Hartford, Conn., and Boston. The orchestra will perform traditional music of the Aegean Islands, including songs from Lesvos, and from the mainland areas of Athens and Thessalonika. Lesvos has a proud heritage in Greek music. In legend it was there that the head and lyre of Orpheus, son of Apollo and Urania and the greatest musician of mythology, washed ashore after his death. And it was Lesvos where the great 7th century B.C. poet and musician Terpandros was born.
Greek music is different depending on whether it is from the mainland or the islands.
The rhythms are what most people notice as quite different. Some of the music is based on Byzantine modes instead of diatonic major and minor Western scales. Since the melodic range of island instruments were restricted to an interval of a sixth, the musical structure is based on the hexachord, while the range of mainland tunes is usually greater. The islands are also where the use of Ionic, Lydian and Phrygian harmonies are dominant. Those needing special accommodations to participate fully in this program, contact Emmanuelle Chaulet at 780-5555.