Nikos Xilouris
Encyclopedia
Nikos Xylouris nicknamed Psaronikos , was a Greek
composer and singer from the
village of Anogeia
in Crete
and also the older brother of two other great musicians of Cretan music, Antonis Xylouris or Psarantonis
and Yiannis Xylouris or (Psaroyiannis) . He was part of the movement
that brought down the Greek military Junta
of 1967.
His songs and music captured and described the Greek
psyche and demeanor,
gaining himself the title the archangel
of Crete.
Psaronikos is a nickname as it is customary for people in Anogeia to have. His grandfather was Psarantonis. His grandfather kept company with a group of 5-6 men who stole from the Turks. As he was the fastest runner in the group, when they met with Turks he was running very fast and he could catch all of them as if they were fish. So, first he was given the name Fishturk (Greek: 'Ψαρότουρκος') and then the nickname Psarantonis. That is how all family male members after him were nicknamed Psaronikos, Psarogiorgis, Psarantonis etc ( this is explained by Psarantonis, Nikos Xylouris' brother in an interview presented on his homepage).
He acquired his first lyra
at the age of twelve and displayed potential to play local folk music. Xylouris was 17 years of age when he started performances at Kastro folk music-restaurant in Heraklion.
A turning point in Nikos Xylouris' career occurred with a recording in 1958. He first performed outside Greece
in 1966 and won the first prize in the San Remo folk music festival. In 1967 he established the first Cretan Music Hall, Erotokritos, in Heraklion
. The recording of Anyfantou in 1969 was a big success. Xylouris soon started performances in Athens
, which became his new permanent residence, at the Konaki folk music hall.
During the early 1970s, Xylouris' voice becomes identified not only with Cretan music but also
with the new kind of artistic popular music that emerged as well-known composers such as
Giannis Markopoulos, Stavros Xarhakos
, Christodoulos Halaris and Christos Leontis
wrote music on the verses of famous Greek poets among which stand out Nikos Gatsos
,
Yannis Ritsos, Giorgos Seferis
, Kostas Varnalis
and Dionysios Solomos
.
In 1971, Xylouris is awarded by the Academy Charles Cross of France
for his performance
in the Cretan Rizitika songs album with G. Markopoulos.
He died in 1980 from a brain tumor
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
composer and singer from the
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 also the older brother of two other great musicians of Cretan music, Antonis Xylouris or Psarantonis
Psarantonis
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...
and Yiannis Xylouris or (Psaroyiannis) . He was part of the movement
that brought down the Greek military Junta
Greek military junta of 1967-1974
The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
of 1967.
His songs and music captured and described the Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
psyche and demeanor,
gaining himself the title the archangel
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
of Crete.
Psaronikos is a nickname as it is customary for people in Anogeia to have. His grandfather was Psarantonis. His grandfather kept company with a group of 5-6 men who stole from the Turks. As he was the fastest runner in the group, when they met with Turks he was running very fast and he could catch all of them as if they were fish. So, first he was given the name Fishturk (Greek: 'Ψαρότουρκος') and then the nickname Psarantonis. That is how all family male members after him were nicknamed Psaronikos, Psarogiorgis, Psarantonis etc ( this is explained by Psarantonis, Nikos Xylouris' brother in an interview presented on his homepage).
He acquired his first 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...
at the age of twelve and displayed potential to play local folk music. Xylouris was 17 years of age when he started performances at Kastro folk music-restaurant in Heraklion.
A turning point in Nikos Xylouris' career occurred with a recording in 1958. He first performed outside Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1966 and won the first prize in the San Remo folk music festival. In 1967 he established the first Cretan Music Hall, Erotokritos, in Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
. The recording of Anyfantou in 1969 was a big success. Xylouris soon started performances in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, which became his new permanent residence, at the Konaki folk music hall.
During the early 1970s, Xylouris' voice becomes identified not only with Cretan music but also
with the new kind of artistic popular music that emerged as well-known composers such as
Giannis Markopoulos, Stavros Xarhakos
Stavros Xarhakos
Stavros Litras is a Greek composer and conductor.Stavros Xarchakos was born in Athens, where he studied at the Athens Conservatoire. He emerged in the Greek music scene around 1963, composing music for the theatre and cinema...
, Christodoulos Halaris and Christos Leontis
wrote music on the verses of famous Greek poets among which stand out Nikos Gatsos
Nikos Gatsos
-Biography:Nikos Gatsos was born in 1911 in Asea in Arcadia, a district of the Peloponnese, where he finished primary school . He attended high school in Tripoli, where he became acquainted with literature and foreign languages. Afterwards, he moved to Athens, where he studied literature,...
,
Yannis Ritsos, Giorgos Seferis
Giorgos Seferis
Giorgos or George Seferis was the pen name of Geōrgios Seferiádēs . He was one of the most important Greek poets of the 20th century, and a Nobel laureate...
, Kostas Varnalis
Kostas Varnalis
Kostas Varnalis was a Greek poet.-Life:Varnalis was born in Burgas, Bulgaria, in 1884. As his name suggests, his family originated from Varna. He completed his elementary studies in the Zariphios Greek high school in Plovdiv and then moved to Athens to study literature at the National and...
and Dionysios Solomos
Dionysios Solomos
Dionysios Solomos was a Greek poet from Zakynthos. He is best known for writing the Hymn to Liberty , of which the first two stanzas, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros, became the Greek national anthem in 1865...
.
In 1971, Xylouris is awarded by the Academy Charles Cross of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for his performance
in the Cretan Rizitika songs album with G. Markopoulos.
He died in 1980 from a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
.
External links
- http://cretanhistory.tripod.com/biograf/xiloyris.htm
- Musical, political and social portrait of Nikos Xylouris
- Nikos Xilouris on YouTube