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This CD captures the extraordinary experience that was Apodomi
Compania at the Retreat Hotel, Melbourne Australia
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Those who shared the experience will
find great pleasure in this recording, and those who did not,
will understand why it was one of the most remarkably vibrant
musical scenes of the past decade in Melbourne.
This CD presents a part of that history, selected from
recordings made by the band of various performances at the
Retreat Hotel, Brunswick 1993-94.
At this time, Apodimi Compania comprised the Galiatsos
brothers, George and Manuel, Hector Cosmas and Archie
Argyropoulos. This line up had already been playing regularly
at the Retreat Hotel for a few years, creating a unique
musical and social experience, attracting people from
differing cultures and musical traditions.
Their effortless agreement in the interpretation of the music,
their talent and immense enthusiasm resulted in a band of
extraordinary cohesiveness and vigour, soon generating a
devoted following in Australia and Greece; a group of virtuoso
performers who can, as it were, play of one mind!
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Rebetika
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Between 1900 and 1923, approximately
1.25 million people of Greek heritage left Asia Minor after a
presence stretching back to antiquity.
Most went to Greece, many to the United States, South America,
England and Australia.
The musical traditions they brought to Greece underwent change
and development and became known as Rebetika, a musical genre
having potent cultural, and political significance. Subversive
in its associations with eastern influences and urban low
life, the songs refer to hashish, love, philosophy, the
migrant experience, pain and separation.
Because of the class it related to, its subject matter, and
most of all, its modal improvisational forms, Rebetika has
been referred to as "Greek Blues".
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;)
;)
