[2004: I found only a few references to Greek santouris in 1976: now we can enjoy pictures, sounds and descriptions from Dimitris Kofterós' work here]
Greece has been left to the last of the East European countries because it presents a fascinating meeting-point between Europe and Asia; the santouris seen in this study have look almost identical to Romanian tambals mic, and the Hungarian cimbalom of Derek Bell (fig. 214), but the solo playing of Konsolos Ermollos - who, incidentally, was seen performing in Steiermark a few weeks ago [July, 1976] by Josef Strunz - has been been related to the maqams of Near-Eastern music, and certainly sounds more Asian than European. However, where he accompanies other musicians, his role is much more comparable with that of, say, the Ukrainian cimbaly players.
[2004: Dimitiris Kofterós identifies the solo-melodic style with the Aegean islands, the accompanying style with the mainland: he also refers to influence from Romania; more here.]
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fig. 225: click |
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fig. 220: click |
According to Anoyakis, the name tsímbalo is used in Greece for 'a sandouri of large dimensions armed with a pedal', although no examples of such instruments were discovered in this study.
Dr. John Teall has a number of recordings of santouri players, and a santouri, from his visits there, and David Lochner understood there to be about 20 players in Athens in 1975.
[2001: Nick Foggo, Greece-connoisseur and dulcimer-player, writes: "There really aren't many old santouri players around now, and very few younger ones."]
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fig. 226: click |
Karakasi (1970) has a short section on santouri, although apparently in Greek; also illustration in Grove 6, 'Greece'.
