Traditional Music of Cyprus

The traditional folk music on Cyprus is similar to the folk music of the Greek that also include the dances such as thetatsia, sousta, syrtos, zeibekiko and the karsilama suites, it is unlike the Greece and Turkey, were they are suites of four karsilama dances, that is different from the men and women, some of them are more than 9/8 tempo. The traditional music is modal, and is based on the Arabian maqam/maqams, both Greek and Turish Cypriots use their violins as the main solo instrument, accompanied by the lute for Greek Cypriots and the oud for Turkish Cypriots. Accordion, drumming instrument/percussion and penny whistle pithiavli are also used. Famous performers of the Greek Cypriot folk music include singers Michael Tterlikkas, Christo Sikkis and Michalis Hatzimichail. A niche artist of the traditional music which is known as Gianni Delfinogamis, a winner of many tshiatista (Cypriot Greek: Totatiota song) competitions. The tsiatista is an improved antiphonal singing akin to the Cretan mantinda, with a satirical and comedic committed, which is usually performed between friends or relatives poking fun at each other. Another well-known singer and composer in Cyprus and Greece of the traditional Cypriot and famous music is Mihalis Violaris. The Greek-Cypriot of the folk music is most closely similar to the Nisiotika (the folk music of the Aegean Islands) and it is so special to the music of the Dodecanese.

source of picture: www.mlahanas.de