The bulgari is an instrument with a multifaceted character, as it easily shifts between solo and accompanying roles. Its presence in the musical landscape of Crete and the creative interaction of "bulgari players" with other musicians and related instruments have contributed to the continuous evolution of its interpretation and techniques. This seminar focuses on the bulgari repertoire as it developed in Crete, as well as the influences and exchanges with other musical traditions. It is open to all interested participants, including those who play related instruments and those who love its unique timbre and style.
Type of seminar: Open – Instrument-focused
Participant level: Open to all levels
Score reading: Not required
Daily instruction hours: 5–6 hours/day
Karolos Kouklakis was born and raised in Athens. His musical journey began at the age of 14 when, as a self-taught musician, he started playing Greek folk and later traditional instruments such as the laouto, mandolin, and boulgari.
At the same time, he began studying Byzantine music theory, initially with Vasilis Nonis and later with Ioannis Arvanitis. Since 1988, he has collaborated with many renowned musicians and composers, including Chronis Aidonidis, Domna Samiou, Vangelis (World Athletics Championship Opening Ceremony, 1997), Nikos Papaioannou – Giorgos Koumendakis (Closing Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympics), Nikos Mamangakis, Yiannis Markopoulos, Christos Leontis, and Kyriakos Kalaitzidis (En Chordais), participating in concerts and recordings.
In 1993, he co-founded the ensemble Palaeina Seferia with Zacharias Spyridakis and Eirini Derempei, producing two albums. Since 2008, he has been performing music from Crete with Eirini Derempei, using wind instruments and the boulgari, in concerts throughout Greece and abroad. Their collaboration led to the release of the album "Wherever You Are, Be Well!".
Since the 1989–1990 academic year, he has been teaching tambouras, boulgari, and both Cretan and Constantinopolitan laouto at the Experimental Music School of Pallini.