The "kontylies" (a type of Cretan traditional instrumental melody) have been cultivated for centuries in the villages of Sitia, giving rise to exceptional musical themes. It is worth exploring their melodies, expressiveness, and improvisational nature through the work of Stratis Kalogeridis, who stands out as the undisputed model in their violin performance. Inspired by the local musical tradition, he managed to nourish it with grace, elegance, and a deep aesthetic sense. The workshop is aimed at musicians with basic knowledge of violin playing. Knowledge of music reading or theory is not required, but it would be particularly helpful for participants to have listened to some of Kalogeridis' recordings. The goal of the workshop is to approach the melodic variety and rhythmic subtlety of the Sitia "kontylies" through active listening, experiential practice, and creative improvisation.
Manolis Moschakis _ Sitia Kontylies and Kalogeridis
Type of Seminar: Open - Instrumental Focus
Level of Participants: Basic knowledge of the instrument
Music Reading: Not required
Teaching Hours: 5-6 hours/day
BIOGRAPHY
Manolis Moschakis was born in 1972 and grew up in Athens. At the age of 14, he began studying music theory and violin with teachers of European classical music. His parents' origin from the Sitia region was the reason for his exposure to the local musical tradition, sparked by gatherings and celebrations in Myrsini, his mother's hometown.
Later, alongside his studies in agriculture, he delved into the folk tradition and popular music of Greece and the broader region, actively performing various types of music, including violin and other string instruments, at events and recordings with various musical ensembles. He enriched his theoretical and practical knowledge by studying Byzantine ecclesiastical music and the modal music of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Asia.
He was a founding member of the Music Laboratory at the Agricultural University of Athens, which consisted of an orchestral ensemble and a choir. He later took over its artistic direction, organizing numerous events of folk and popular music and producing an album featuring traditional songs from various Greek regions. Since 2008, he has been living and working in Crete, always in love with music, mesmerized by its power, and eager to discover and share as many of its secrets as he can.