Yannis Constantinidis, a Greek composer, led a double life, composing 'serious' music under his birth name and 'popular' music under the inverted name Costas Yannidis for financial security.
Historical Context
After its liberation from Ottoman rule, the young Greek state sought to develop its own musical identity, influenced by Eastern, Italian, French, and German musical traditions.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Yannis Constantinidis, a Greek composer, incorporated traditional Greek melodies and rhythms into his 'serious' works, similar to Béla Bartók's meticulous collection of folk tunes.
Compositional Technique
The Six Etudes on Greek Folk Rhythms by Yannis Constantinidis, a Greek composer, feature 'irregular' time signatures like 7/8, 9/8, and 5/8, reflecting the natural use of compound rhythms characteristic of the Balkans.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded across three different sessions in 2010, 2018, and 2020, with different recording engineers and technicians for each period.
Performer Biography
Andreas Skouras, the German-Greek pianist and harpsichordist on this album, has an extensive repertoire of over 1000 works spanning five centuries.
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