Psarantonis
Encyclopedia
Antonis Xylouris nicknamed Psarantonis is a Greek
composer, singer and performer of lyra
, the bowed string instrument of Crete and most popular surviving form of the medieval Byzantine lyra
. He comes from the mountainous village of Anogeia
in Crete
and is the younger brother of the late Nikos Xylouris, a notable Cretan singer/musician as well as the older brother of Yiannis Xylouris, an equally notable Cretan musician. Psarantonis is known for the special timbre of his voice and his lyra
playing style. Apart from the lyra Psarantonis plays various traditional instruments.
He first played the lyre at the age of 13 and recorded his first single in 1964, titled "I Thought of Denying You" . He has released many recordings since then and has represented Greece many times in festivals abroad.
In May 2005, Psarantonis performed at the World Music Institute's 20th anniversary benefit concert at Town Hall, New York. In 2007 at the festival Rock "All tomorrow's Parties" in Minehead
, UK. In January 2009, he gave memorable performances in the rock music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties
hosted in Brisbane
, Sydney
and Mount Buller (in Victoria) and curated by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
composer, singer and performer of lyra
Lyra (Cretan)
The Cretan lyra is a Greek pear-shaped, three-stringed bowed musical instrument, central to the traditional music of Crete and other islands in the Dodecanese and the Aegean Archipelago, in Greece...
, the bowed string instrument of Crete and most popular surviving form of the medieval Byzantine lyra
Byzantine lyra
The Byzantine lyra or lira , was a medieval bowed string musical instrument in the Byzantine Empire and is an ancestor of most European bowed instruments, including the violin. In its popular form the lyra was a pear-shaped instrument with three to five strings, held upright and played by stopping...
. He comes from the mountainous village of Anogeia
Anogeia
Anogeia is a municipality in the Rethymno peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Population 2,507 .When exactly were Anogeia founded and by whom, is not accurately known...
in Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and is the younger brother of the late Nikos Xylouris, a notable Cretan singer/musician as well as the older brother of Yiannis Xylouris, an equally notable Cretan musician. Psarantonis is known for the special timbre of his voice and his lyra
Lyra (Cretan)
The Cretan lyra is a Greek pear-shaped, three-stringed bowed musical instrument, central to the traditional music of Crete and other islands in the Dodecanese and the Aegean Archipelago, in Greece...
playing style. Apart from the lyra Psarantonis plays various traditional instruments.
He first played the lyre at the age of 13 and recorded his first single in 1964, titled "I Thought of Denying You" . He has released many recordings since then and has represented Greece many times in festivals abroad.
In May 2005, Psarantonis performed at the World Music Institute's 20th anniversary benefit concert at Town Hall, New York. In 2007 at the festival Rock "All tomorrow's Parties" in Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
, UK. In January 2009, he gave memorable performances in the rock music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
hosted in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Mount Buller (in Victoria) and curated by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
Discography
- 1973: Κρητική Ξαστερία
- 1976: Η Μάχη της Κρήτης
- 1976: Πηγές
- 1978: Σαϊτέματα
- 1982: Αναστορήματα
- 1983: Οι ρίζες μου
- 1985: Εκτός Εαυτού
- 1986: Να κάμω θέλω ταραχή
- 1989: Τα μεράκια του Ψαραντώνη
- 1990: Από φλόγες η Κρήτη ζωσμένη
- 1991: 30 Χρόνια Ψαραντώνης
- 1991: Μαθήματα Πατριδογνωσίας
- 1991: Ο γιος του Ψηλορείτη - Son of Psiloritis
- 1994: Παλιό κρασί 'ναι η σκέψη μου - My thoughts are like old wine
- 1995: Μουσική Ανοιξη
- 1996: Από Καρδιάς - De Profundis
- 1997: Cretan Music - The way of Psarantonis
- 1998: Νογώ - I reckon reflexions
- 1999: Ιδαίον Άνδρον -Idaion Antron
- 2000: Τέσσερις Δρόμοι για τον Ερωτόκριτο
- 2000: Λεόντιος Μαχαιράς - Χρονικό της Κύπρου (Μουσική Ψαραντώνης)
- 2000: Χαϊνιδες - Ο Ξυπόλυτος Πρίγκιπας
- 2001: Νίκος Κυπουργος -Τα Μυστικά του Κήπου
- 2002: Ριζίτικα - Rizitika
- 2002: Παπά-Στεφανής ο Νίκας-Αγρίμι και Κοράσο
- 2007: Ψαραντωνης & Βασίλης Σκουλάς - Άνθη του Χρόνου
- 2007: Να 'χεν η Θάλασσα βουνά - Had the Sea mountains
- 2008: Αντάρτες των βουνών - Mountain rebels
- 2009: Εκειά που θέλω