KOSTAS MOUNTAKIS-TA RIZITIKA

KOSTAS MOUNTAKIS - TA RIZITKA

KOSTAS MOUNTAKIS AND THE SONGS OF FREEDOM AND LIFE

The rizitika songs are coming mostly from western Crete. However, it is widespread in Central Crete.

Roots are the foothills and rizitika sung in the villages located at the foot of the mountains. From the roots of the mountains took their names and songs: and Psiloritis (Ida) and Dikti, but mainly the White Mountains of Law. Chania. Moreover, there are two other features of the name "rizitika": one accepts that took their name from the ancient Rizinia (Meskla) and one finds that such for other types of songs are the terms "oriental", "Moraitika" etc., so depending on the songs of the root, the ancestors, generation, named Rizitika.

These songs have a long tradition and covering many areas of people's expression as songs of the panel (table) Walkers (in progress), and also called for weddings, celebrations and christenings, as in cases feast. Their themes are heroic - rebel against the invaders, historical narrative of exile, religious, allegorical, love, pastoral etc. Their music is earnest and pain points.

The rizitika songs are not for dancing. The are sung in 32 melodies, the - choral, or starting a imistichio shall be performed by a singer and then is repeated choruses of the company (it is obedience and in antifonisin) and several rizitika is idiomela with their own melodies. There is always rhyme, verse is always fifteen syllable although he excels stats. The rizitika songs rarely accompanied in groups with lute, violin or lyra as opposed to social events and centers of Cretan music. The groups before and after the rizitika sing a slow melodic purposes Hanioti zipper with serenades.

Kostis Moudatsos

Seistron musical editions thanks a lot Manos Mountakis for the assignment of the recordings