Dimitras Kukas, familiarly known as Barba Mitsos ("Uncle Mitsos"), sang and composed these unaccompanied songs. Born at the end of the 19th century on the island of Syros, Kukas grew up in Mykonos, and until his death in 1980 was one of the last performers of this Greek oral tradition.While Kukas' songs are original compositions, he comments, "I keep the tradition of my father and grandfather, who sang this sort of song when I was a child." Kukas draws upon the traditional distich, or two-line couplet, which is the keystone of Greek oral tradition. The distiches provide a body of pre-constructed formulas-images, comparisons, and adages-which Kukas uses and reworks in his own songs. The songs include essential themes of popular Greek repertoire such as love and sorrow, odes to mother, xenitia (songs for those far from home), and mirologia (funeral songs).

Tracklist:

Kimumenos I Xipnitos
Apopse Then Kimithika
Ali Kaimeni Mu Kardia
Sta Salona Sfazun Arnia
Me T'ah Ke Me T'alimono
Poli Anastenazune
I Mana Ine Paploma
Dioxe Me Mana
Pios Xeri I Agapi Mu 1
Otan Pethano 1
K'an Kleo Me Parapono 1
Sikosu Epano Yanno Mu 1
To Mnima Mu Na Khtisete 1
San Thete Na Dite Klamata

UPC: 093077805623
Label: Unesco
Release Date: 1.13.15
Format: CD

Greece Vocal Monodies / Various - Greece: Vocal Monodies (CD)