Greek Music Content Greek music is the oldest musical culture in Europe. Since ancient Greece was conquered by Rome, Greek music has lost its leading position in Europe. Since the Middle Ages, the development of professional music in Greece has been closely related to the music culture of Byzantium. Starting from the mid-15th century, Turkey's four-century rule over Greece seriously hindered the development of professional music in Greece. However, the tradition of Greek national music is preserved in folk and religious music. Greek folk music is rich in genres and forms. Songs can be divided into different categories such as epic, historical, life, and narrative. Among them, life songs include labor songs, lullabies, love songs, wedding songs, drinking songs, humorous songs and calendar songs (songs commemorating mass folk festivals), etc. The content of historical songs is to praise people's freedom and national independence. Most of them were produced during the period of the Greek people's struggle against Turkish slavery (called "Songs of Liberation Soldiers") and the establishment of the Greek nation-state. The singing of Greek folk songs often takes the form of a round dance. The names of folk dances are derived from place names (such as Cretan dance), historical events (such as Zalongo dance), occupations (such as Hasapikos dance, the butcher's dance) and rhythmic movements (such as Siltos dance). dance, Siltak dance). Greek folk musical instruments include: lutes, liras, aphros and wind bag pipes of various specifications. Commonly used instruments in modern times include bujuk, mandolin and violin, and later clarinet and guitar were added. These instruments are used in folk bands. Greek professional music only developed after the independence of Greece in the 1830s. Before that, it only developed in the Ionian Islands that were not occupied by Turkey, and was largely influenced by Italian and French professional music. The first batch of famous professional composers were N. Mantezaros, S. Xindas, P. Karel, S. Samaras, D. Lavrangas and the Ramwelet brothers. N. Mancharos (1795~1872) was the composer of the Greek national anthem and the founder of the Corfu Philharmonic Society, which cultivated many Greek musicians. Xindas (1812~1896) was the author of the first Greek national opera "The Alternate". Carrel (1829 ~ 1896)'s creation was carried out under the influence of the Greek Revolution of 1821. His representative works include: the opera "Marcos Bozaris", "Mistress Frosini", "Jespo Sully Heroine", etc. His song "Old Demos" is loved by the people. Samaras (1863? ~ 1917) was the first modern Greek composer to become famous abroad. He was the composer of the Olympic anthem. Many of his operas were performed in Italy, including "Flora Mira." "Bilis", "Lionella", "The Martyred Lady", "The Taming of the Witch", "The Pretty Lady", etc. From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, due to composers' in-depth study of the folk music tradition of their own nation, Greek professional music gradually overcame foreign influences. The emergence of a new genre of musicals (comicillion) reflected this trend, and many composers wrote music for this kind of musicals. The creations of brothers Lavrangas and Ramvelette clearly show national characteristics. Lavrangas (1860 ~ 1941) composed the operas "Two Brothers", "The Witch", "Dido", "Facanapas" as well as symphony, chamber music, chorus and vocal solo works. In 1940, he The Greek National Opera was formed in Athens. G. Ramvelette (1875-1945) composed a large number of songs and wrote the book "Greek Folk Music" in 1934. He and his brother N. Ramvelette (1864 ~ 1932) made outstanding contributions to the promotion and research of Greek folk music. On the basis of the combination of Greek national folk music and European music culture, the modern Greek national music school was gradually formed. In addition to the above-mentioned Lavrangas and G. Ramvelette, the most influential representatives are M. Kalomiris, M. Varvoglis and E. Riadis. Kalomiris has composed many operas, such as "The Master Builder", "Mother's Ring", "Sunrise", "Troubled Waters", "Constantine Paleologos" and symphonies and chamber music works. . He is the founder of the Greek National Conservatory of Music.

Varvoloulis (1885 ~ 1967) composed the opera "Love in the Afternoon" and many orchestral music and ancient Greek tragedy scores. Riadis (1890-1935) composed nearly 200 songs and adapted about 100 folk songs, and was known as the "Schubert of Greece". In the 1930s, a group of Greek-trained musicians emerged, many of whom showed their talents. For example, S. Mihelides (1905-1979) became the president of the National Conservatory of Music in Thessaloniki and the conductor of the Northern Symphony Orchestra of Greece. He was also a theorist who studied Greek folk music. A. Ivangelatos (1903~) served as director of the Hellen School of Music in Athens (since 1967) and president of the Federation of Greek Composers (1957). T. Geogades (1907~1977) served as director of Thessaloniki Choir leader and author of the book Greek Choral Songs. During World War II, the Greek people's struggle against their fascist occupiers inspired many composers. A number of works have emerged that reflect real-life struggles, such as Kalomiris's symphonic poem "Death without Fear", Varvoglis's symphonic poem "Beyond the Barbed Wire Fence", and Xenos's song "Onward" , "Youth Ode", etc. In the 1940s and 1950s, many composers worked hard to create on the basis of inheriting the Greek folk music tradition and the ancient Byzantine musical heritage. In addition to writing symphonic and dramatic music, they also wrote a large number of mass songs. Among them, M. Hadidakis (1925~) has made remarkable achievements. He wrote scores for more than 50 dramas, many ancient Greek tragedies and movies, and also composed symphonies, ballets, piano music and songs. Since the mid-1960s, a large number of professional and amateur songwriters have appeared. Their songwriting combines the styles of Western European and Greek light music. They are popular at home and abroad and have a great influence on the music performing arts. Some vocal and instrumental performance groups have been formed. , the composer himself often doubles as a conductor or singer to participate in the performance. Two musicians who have long been engaged in creation and performance abroad and enjoy international reputation are I. Xenakis (1922~) and M. Karas. The former is a composer who creates with modern techniques, and the latter is a contemporary world-famous soprano opera singer. They have made outstanding contributions to today's music industry.