PERIKLIS PAPAPETROPOULOS: MUSIC GROUP: LAVTA & MUSICS FROM TURKEY & GREECE
The lavta, also known in Greek as politiko laouto, is a plucked string instrument deeply connected with the musical world of Istanbul and the musical traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean. Although the instrument nearly disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century, in recent decades it has experienced a remarkable revival in both Greece and Turkey, attracting musicians interested in modal music, improvisation, and the meeting point between different musical cultures.
The lavta is a particularly open and versatile instrument. Its sound, technique and repertoire place it between worlds: it shares qualities with the oud, the saz, the lute traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the melodic language of both folk and classical modal music. For this reason, the lavta can be understood not only as an instrument, but also as a prism through which many musical traditions can be explored.
In this seminar, Periklis Papapetropoulos, one of today’s leading exponents of the lavta and the saz in the field of modal music, will guide participants through a rich musical journey. The seminar will function as a music group open to instrumentalists of all kinds, not only lavta players. Through the lavta’s repertoire, sound and approach, participants will have the opportunity to study and experience a wide variety of musical languages: folk musics from Greece and Turkey, urban popular traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as connections with Azeri, Iranian and Arabic musical traditions.
The work will include technique, sound production, melodic development, rhythm, repertoire, ornamentation, modal understanding and ensemble playing. Special attention will also be given to the voice. Periklis, who is also an experienced singer and cantor in the Orthodox Church in Athens, will use singing as a central guide for understanding phrasing, makam, expression and musical memory.
