Greek Folk Music: An Anthology of Tunes — Volume 2

This second volume extends the work begun in Volume 1, with 20 tunes from regions not represented in the first anthology — including Cyprus, Kefalonia, eastern Thrace, and areas of Constantinople and the Eastern Mediterranean that shaped Greek musical culture well beyond the modern borders of the state. Together, the two volumes offer a panoramic view of Greek traditional music that no single regional anthology can match.

Greek folk music is not a single repertoire but a constellation of local and regional traditions, each with its own instruments, rhythms, dance forms, and modal character. This anthology reflects that diversity: the 20 tunes collected here come from the Peloponnese, the Aegean and Ionian islands, Thrace, Cyprus, Lesbos, Leros, Kimolos, Kefalonia, and more — including areas of Asia Minor and the broader Eastern Mediterranean world that shaped Greek musical culture well beyond the boundaries of the modern state.

Each transcription is prepared to serve both performers and researchers. Dual notation — modal and equal-tempered — means the collection is usable on any instrument, microtonal or not. Accompaniment chords are included where appropriate, and every tune is paired with a QR code for direct listening.

What the book contains

• 20 traditional tunes from across Greece and its historical territories, including: Bournovalios sirtos (Bournova), Limneiko zeibekiko (Constantinople), Pasoumaki (Leros), Mantra (Cyprus), Politikos sirtos (Amorgos), Antikristos (Ikonio), Kimoliatiki sousta (Kimolos), Chasapia (East Thrace), Mantili kalamatiano (Peloponnese), Vari aidiniko zeibekiko (Constantinople), Balos Kefalonias (Kefalonia), Partalo (Pylaia), Tetartos antrikos karsilamas (Cyprus), Bournovalis sirtos (Chios), Geragotikos sirtos (Lesbos), Palios karsilamas (Lesbos), Sigkathistos (Thrace), Patrounino (Almopia), Sirtos dodekanisiakos (Dodecanese), Baintouska (East Thrace)
• Dual notation throughout: modal and equal-tempered, to accommodate all instruments
• Accompaniment chords where appropriate
• QR codes for every tune — listen directly from the page on any smartphone or tablet

Who this book is for

Musicians who play laouto, bouzouki, oud, guitar, mandolin, or any melodic instrument will find 20 new tunes for their practice — each with modal context, not just notes. The repertoire is entirely distinct from Volume 1: no duplicates, no regional overlap.

Researchers and ethnomusicologists will find a wider geographical range than in Volume 1: Cyprus, Kefalonia, Constantinople, the Dodecanese, eastern Thrace, and areas of western Anatolia are all represented — a breadth that reflects the historical reality of Greek musical culture, which was never confined to the borders of the modern state.

Used together, Volumes 1 and 2 form a substantial reference anthology — 42 tunes covering virtually every major region of the Greek world, documented to the same scholarly standard throughout.

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