Kourites protecting Zeus from his father Saturn

One of the oldest references to music comes to us through the Greek mythology. It takes place on the island of Crete and according to the myth Rea, the mother of Zeus was desperately trying to protect him from being eaten alive by his father Saturn.

Rea hid Zeus at the Ideon Andron which is located on the mountain of Psiloritis. However as a baby Zeus was crying. In order to cover his crying sounds the mythical warriors Courites started clanging rythmically their swords on their shields. The legend says that the rythm of the Courites was something like a “Sousta” and “Anogeianos Pidihtos” , a dance from the Psiloritis region.

The music of Crete in its history during the centuries has accepted many influences from the ancient Greek world, the Byzantium and also from various conquerors such as the Venetians, Ottomans, Sarakines, Phoenicians.  It has matured to a unique musical form that is mainly being sung by Lyras and Violins.

The master musicians of the beginnings of the 20th century evolved the current musical compositions and created many new ones leaving a huge heritage after them. The early musicians were called “protomastores” and some of them are: Charilaos Piperakis, Andreas Rodinos, Adonis Papadakis (kareklas), Giannis Dermitzakis (Dermitzogiannis), Manolis Lagos, George Kalogridis. The new generation of cretan musicians that are still creating up to this day include: Thanassis Skordalos, Kostas Moudakis, Leonidas Klados, Nikos Ksylouris, Rodamanthos Androulakis, Zaharias Melessanakis, Nikos Skevakis, Alefadinoi brothers.

Protomastores – Early 20th century Lyra masters