Mike's Oud Forums

the most beautifull summer

spyros mesogeia - 11-15-2005 at 07:21 AM

Believe me,this was the most beautifull summer I ever had.Mavro we really hope to see you again very soon.
Regards to all

miss your playing

sydney - 11-15-2005 at 07:45 AM

Hey spyros, :wavey:

Long time no see man, We miss your nice playing buddy. come on, play us something nice this is not a photo album ...

:applause: in advance.

Cheers,

spyros mesogeia - 11-15-2005 at 07:52 AM

I will my friend,I will sing and play something for you.
Regards to all :wavey:
Spyros

John Erlich - 11-15-2005 at 09:42 AM

Yassas Spyros,

So is the older gentleman in the photo Nikos Saragoudas? I discoved him when my wife and I were waiting in the Athens airport for our flight home in 2002 (honeymoon in the Islands). I ducked into the Metropolis shop there and bought the CD "Iones." I bought 3 more of his recordings in 2003 when we travelled in Thessaloniki and the north.

One recording even includes a version of the Spanish tune, "Besame Mucho," which I am told is a favorite among Greek schoolboys because the words sound like the Greek for "I used to play with myself." ;)

Are his newer recordings worth buying?
http://www.studio52.gr/info_en.asp?infoID=00000gy0
http://www.studio52.gr/info_en.asp?infoID=00000so3 (I love that: "El Younan" in Arabic!)

All the best,
John

mavrothis - 11-15-2005 at 03:31 PM

What can I say Spyro, for me this past summer trip was the most influential in my life. So many great things happened, I met so many beautiful people...too much to put into words. Thank you again for all of your hospitality, and for making it possible for me to meet with Mr. and Mrs. Saragoudas, which was a dream come true.

You are the best!

:)

mav

Mike - 11-15-2005 at 07:29 PM

Hey guys,

Great picture. It was great seeing those four beauties. I mean Mrs. Saragoudas and the 3 lovely ouds, of'course. ;) But seriously, thanks for sharing this photo Spyros. It looks like you did a great job hosting Mavro. Mavro, I'm surprised you didn't come back 10 pounds heavier man.

Be well,
Mike

spyros mesogeia - 11-16-2005 at 06:12 AM

Mavro you are my brother and you know it man,we really miss you all of us,and I really thank YOU for everything.
John,here in Greece and not only ,Nikos Saragoudas is a living legend,I am very proud that he gives me the chance to play and sing near him and his wife Yasemin too.Everything he sings and plays,is a miracle.I am very proud that he loves me and teach me as his fourth son.We have a relationship like father and son,I really respect him and I consider my self the most blessed person in Greece,everything I know about the Asia Minor songs I own it to my ''father'' Nikos.....so the words are not enough to show what he really is my friend.

Regards to all
Spyros Koliavasilis

John Erlich - 11-16-2005 at 11:01 AM

Yassas Spyros,

It is wonderful to see younger generations working so hard to preserve traditional music! The generation of Greek Asia Minor refugees is all but gone. The revival of Greek Asia Minor music can be credited to a few wonderfully stubborn people of the next generation, like Mr. Saragoudas, and foreigners, like Ross Dailey.

Israel will soon be in a similar situation. The Jews of Arab lands mostly left 1949-51. The great masters trained there are now mostly quite elderly. The blind Iraqi qanoun master, Abraham Salman, is well into his 80s. As with Asia Minor music in Greece, Arabic music was neglected in Israel for similar reasons, I think. Luckily, young people in both countries are starting to realize the treasure that may soon slip away and are learning what they can from these masters.

If I didn't have to work for a living (office day job), I would go back to school for a PhD in ethnomusicology and study and write about attempts to pass knowledge of traditional Near Eastern music on to younger generations in Greece and Israel. I already have a title: "Re-Orientation."

Keep up the good work!

All the best,
John

mavrothis - 11-16-2005 at 11:07 AM

Hi John,

I have the same sentiments about the resurgence of this music. It is very lucky for me that at the same time that I was discovering this music (around 10 years ago) the revival in Greece of oud and other traditional instruments was also becoming steadily stronger. I believe that what has not been lost will be preserved, but even Ross Daly will tell us that as far as how music sounded and was played before our earliest recordings, we can only guess about it. It's sad but expected.

Thanks for expressing your feelings on this subject.

Take care,

mav

John Erlich - 11-16-2005 at 12:35 PM

Oops!

I forgot to mention that, in order to regain some of the technical musical skills, it will probably be necessary for Greeks to study with Turks and Israelis to study with Palestinians.

I already see this happening, and it can only increase the peace...

Best,
John

spyros mesogeia - 11-17-2005 at 05:52 AM

Dear friend,
here is a taksim and a song,Karampourniwtiko is the name of the song,the inregistration was made 15 mibnutes ago on my computer,the oud is my single hole Turkish type made By Dimitris,The sound clip was very big to attach that is why I had to minimize the Kbts and the sound is like an old recording:shrug:,I hope that you will like it.
Regards to all:wavey:
Spyros

spyros mesogeia - 11-17-2005 at 05:58 AM

here is and the karabourniotiko
Regards to all

mavrothis - 11-17-2005 at 07:01 AM

Spyro,

It's always great to hear your playing and your voice, thanks for sharing my man. The oud keeps improving too, beautiful!

mav

spyros mesogeia - 11-18-2005 at 12:52 AM

Thanks Bro,I hope that I will see you again quickly.
Regards to all:wavey:
Spyros

SamirCanada - 11-18-2005 at 07:09 AM

Yes your lucky to have a oud maker and a legend player around you. And there infulence shows up in your playing brother.
Thanks for sharing your playing
Its beutifull.

Sweet

sydney - 11-18-2005 at 07:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by spyros mesogeia
here is and the karabourniotiko
Regards to all


Man,

That was so sweet. You took me to Greece for 2.33 minutes.

Not enough.

Thank you so much Spyros for singing and for playing but above all thank you for keeping your promise.:bowdown:

So cool Spyros ... :applause:

spyros mesogeia - 11-21-2005 at 01:00 AM

Thank you for your kind words,I just do my best to be better and better,but I have many many things to learn,it's so unlimited this unique instrument,and that is the beauty of it.
Regards to all:wavey:
Spyros Koliavasilis