Chainides
Encyclopedia
Chainides is a Cretan folk music
group who are inspired by
the vast legacy of traditional Cretan music
and whose lyrics borrow words
from the Cretan Greek dialect
. The group's name comes from the word chainis
, meaning the fugitive rebel.
them were then students at the University of Crete
. Their discographical debut was in
1991 with the album Chainides that was warmly received by the public. Chainides
rapidly grew to seven members and released three more albums before being temporarily
dissolved in 1997. One year later, Dimitris Apostolakis and Dimitris Zaharioudakis
reinstated the group that was joined by the new members Maria Koti, Alexis Nonis,
Periklis Tsoukalas and Antonis Skamnakis.
Over the years, Chainides have collaborated with several well-known musicians and singers.
They have performed in several locations both in Greece and abroad and have recorded seven
studio albums. In their live performances, Chainides blend their own compositions and songs
with new arrangements of themes and songs from traditions such as those of Turkey
,
Afghanistan
and Bulgaria
.
considering it as something very much alive rather than a thing of a gone past.
The group's success is considered to have paved the road for other young artists
to embrace the Cretan music tradition and attempt to enrich it with new elements.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group who are inspired by
the vast legacy of traditional Cretan music
Music of Crete
The music of Crete is a traditional form of Greek folk music called κρητικά . The lyra is the dominant folk instrument on the island; there are three-stringed and four-stringed versions of this bowed string instrument, closely related to the medieval Byzantine lyra. It is often accompanied by the...
and whose lyrics borrow words
from the Cretan Greek dialect
Cretan Greek
Cretan Greek is a dialect of the Greek language, spoken by more than half a million people in Crete and many thousands in the diaspora....
. The group's name comes from the word chainis
, meaning the fugitive rebel.
History
The group was formed in March 1990 by a group of friends, namely Dimitris Apostolakis, Dimitris Zacharioudakis, Giorgos Laodikis, Miltos Pashalidis and Kallia Spyridaki. Most ofthem were then students at the University of Crete
University of Crete
The University of Crete ' is the principal higher education institution on the island of Crete, Greece.The University of Crete, is a multi-disciplinary, research- oriented institution, located in the cities of Rethymno and Heraklion...
. Their discographical debut was in
1991 with the album Chainides that was warmly received by the public. Chainides
rapidly grew to seven members and released three more albums before being temporarily
dissolved in 1997. One year later, Dimitris Apostolakis and Dimitris Zaharioudakis
reinstated the group that was joined by the new members Maria Koti, Alexis Nonis,
Periklis Tsoukalas and Antonis Skamnakis.
Over the years, Chainides have collaborated with several well-known musicians and singers.
They have performed in several locations both in Greece and abroad and have recorded seven
studio albums. In their live performances, Chainides blend their own compositions and songs
with new arrangements of themes and songs from traditions such as those of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
Group Members
- Dimitris Apostolakis - Cretan lyre, vocals
- Dimitris Zaharioudakis - acoustic guitar, vocals
- Maria Koti - vocals
- Alexis Nonis - percussion
- Mihalis Nikopoulos - mantolin, bouzouki
- Dimitris Mprentas - flute
- Antonis Skamnakis - double bass, electric bass
Discography
- 1991 - Χαΐνηδες (Chainides)
- 1993 - Κόσμος κι όνειρο είναι ένα (Kosmos ki oniro ine ena)
- 1994 - Με κόντρα τον καιρό (Me kontra ton kero)
- 1997 - Το μεγάλο ταξίδι (To megalo taxidi)
- 2000 - Ο ξυπόλητος πρίγκηπας (O xipolitos prigipas), double album
- 2002 - Δελτίο ειδήσεων (Deltio idiseon), 3 songs
- 2005 - Ο γητευτής και το δρακοδόντι (O giteftis kai to drakodonti), double album
- 2007 - Ο Καραγκιόζης στη Γιουροβίζιον (O Karagiozis stin Eurovision)
- 2008 - Η κάθοδος των Σαλτιμπάγκων (I kathodos ton Saltimpagon)
- 2011 - Αγροκτηνοτροφικά και Μητροπολιτικά (Agroktinotrofika & Mitropolitika), double album
Impact
Chainides have treated the Cretan music tradition with love and respect,considering it as something very much alive rather than a thing of a gone past.
The group's success is considered to have paved the road for other young artists
to embrace the Cretan music tradition and attempt to enrich it with new elements.