Where did rebetika songs come from?

Rebetiko probably originated in the music of the larger, mainly coastal cities in today’s Asia Minor with large Greek communities during the Ottoman era. In these cities the cradles of rebetiko were likely to be the ouzeri, the hashish dens (tekedes) with hookahs, coffee shops and even the prison.

What is a rembetis?

Rembetis refers to a person who embraces the whole lifestyle of rembetiko, also known as a mangas (pronounced [ˈma(ŋ)ɡas]).

Is the bouzouki Greek?

bouzouki, also spelled buzuki, long-necked plucked lute of Greece. Resembling a mandolin, the bouzouki has a round wooden body, with metal strings arranged in three or four double courses over a fretted fingerboard.

Is it difficult to play bouzouki?

Bouzouki is a rather easy instument to play, provided that you have a basic knowledge of guitar playing, as its 4 double strings are the same with 4 of the guitar’s. However, if it is your first attempt to play an instrument, you may find it difficult, as its strings are made of wire and are pretty hard.

What is unique about Greek music?

Music is an important element of the culture of Greece having an incredible diversity owing to the integration of different influences of the Eastern and Western cultures. The long history of music in Greece dates back to ancient times, the period when music, dance, lyrics and poetry were an integral part of life.

Is bouzouki a melody instrument?

The bouzouki is seldom used as a melody instrument and has thus found its place in the accompaniment section of Irish traditional music. It is often a preferred method of accompaniment to the guitar, harp and piano as its distinctive sound is very appealing.

What is rebetiko in music?

Rebetiko is the type of Greek songs and music that combines the Greek music tradition of folk songs and kleftika songs sang by residents of large Greek cities. The first rebetika songs were born in Piraeus, Athens, in 1834 and they were called “mourmourika”, standing for the murmured songs in English.

Who are some famous Greek composers of rebetiko?

Some of the most known Greek composers of rebetiko music are Vassilis Tsitsanis, Markos Vamvakaris, Bayanderas, Perpiniadis,Tsaousakis, Giorgos Ksintaris, Yiannis Papaioannou, Manolis Chiotis and more. Some of the most known singers of rebetika songs are Roza Eskenazi, Rita Abatzi and Sotiria Bellou.

Is rebetiko still popular in Greece?

Bouzouki, which was a bit disfavored in previous years as it was associated with rebetika, becomes popular again, as both Hadjidakis and Theodorakis, and other composers use it widely in their work. Today rebetiko is fully recognized and accepted in Greece, and it’s a genre of the Greek music studied abroad as well.

What is the most famous rebetika song?

Kaigomai is one of the most known rebetika songs, heard for the first time in the movie Rebetiko, by Kostas Ferris in 1983. The movie Rebetiko refers to …