Years of research and obsession have resulted in this, the ﬁrst collection of recordings by the legendary and masterful Greek folk violinist Alexis Zoumbas. Very few pre-war musicians have tapped deeper into the human soul than Zoumbas and this volume presents his most profoundly hypnotic and unearthly pieces, all recorded in New York City from 1926-1928.  A deep set of notes is accompanied by previously unpublished photographs as well as original art-work by R. Crumb. Respectfully crafted by Christopher King and Susan Archie for Angry Mom Records.

A Long Gone Sound Production for Angry Mom Records. AMA-04.

Part of the “How The Other Half Hears” Sound Series.

LP Street Date: April 19th, 2014 - Record Store Day Exclusive
CD Street Date: TBA

For More Information, please visit:
http://longgonesound.com/current-travails/2014/1/18/alexis-zoumbas-a-lament-for-epirus-1926-1928-original-artwork-by-robert-crumb-10-recordings-with-deluxe-gatefold-lp

Tzamara Arvanitiko - Alexis Zoumbas

Syrto Sta Dyo - Alexis Zoumbas

Epirotika Mirologi - Alexis Zoumbas

Song & Dance From Northern Greece, 1928-1958.  
Featuring sublime and unhinged music rarely heard outside of Northern Greece and Southern Albania, the performances presented in this collection span the range of plaintive, ancient
dirges to hypnotic, droning dance pieces. The style, repertoire, and songs from this isolated region are unearthly in their euphonic appeal. Most of the sides on this LP & CD collection have not been issued since they were originally pressed on 78 rpm disc. A deep set of notes is accompanied by comprehensive
lyrical translations as well as original artwork by R. Crumb. Respectfully crafted by Christopher King and Susan Archie for Angry Mom Records.

Merko Moirologi - A Lament For More Time - Manthos Halkias

Stis Deropolis Ton Kampo - On The Deropolis Plain - Group From Northern Epirus

In August of 2014 I made another trip to Epirus to interview the Roma musicians of Pogoni including Yiannis Chaldoupis of Parakalamos and other traditional Epirot musicians. I also made a series of field recordings using a KORG-MR-1000, one omnidirectional microphone, and one dynamic microphone. All of these recordings were made either in village courtyards, under the plane tree or in the courtyards of local monasteries. These recordings show a profound continuity between the music captured on 78 rpm discs from the 1920s-1950s and the song & dance tunes that are played in Epirus to this day. These unique field recordings will be issued commercially through JSP records. This collection of Yiannis Chaldoupis & Moukliomos will be available worldwide in March of 2015.  Here are two of the tracks on the collection.


Ti Kako Ekana O Kaimenos Dheropolitissa (Have I Done Anything Evil? /  Woman Of Dheropolis)

Skaros Tsifteleli (Shepherd's Air / Tsifteteli)

In August of 2014 I made another trip to Epirus to interview the Roma musicians of Zagori and Ioannina including the group Takimi. I also made a series of field recordings using a KORG-MR-1000, one omnidirectional microphone, and one dynamic microphone. All of these recordings were made either in village courtyards, under the plane tree or in the courtyards of local monasteries. These recordings show a profound continuity between the music captured on 78 rpm discs from the 1920s-1950s and the song & dance tunes that are played in Epirus to this day. These unique field recordings will be issued commercially through JSP records. This collection of Takimi of Epirus  will be available worldwide in June of 2015. Here are two of the tracks on the collection.

Thiakos; Selfo (Thiakos; Nightingale)

Skaros; Hora (Shepherd's Air; Hora Dance)

This playlist contains music that is described in the book "Lament from Epirus: An Odyssey Into Europe's Oldest Surviving Folk Music." This is kind of a "soundtrack" for the book, making it easier for readers to hear the music that is mentioned in the book. 
--thank you, Christopher C. King

Skaros  Tsifteteli - Yiannis Chaldoupis

Kalokeraki is a fast tsamiko that practically defines the genre of music that emerged around Ioannina in the 1920s.  I write about this piece as well as the other types of dance music in Epirus in Chapter 3: "You Know, Most Greeks Don't Even Like This Music."
For more information or purchase, please visit: 
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/lament-from-epirus/

Five Days Married & Other Laments: Song and Dance from Northern Greece (1928-1958)

Kalokeraki - Summer - Nikos Tsaras

Alimbeis is one of the stately slow dance tunes recorded by Zoumbas in 1926 in New York City.  I mention the recording in Chapter 5: Zoumbas's Lament.
For more information or purchase, please visit: 
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/lament-from-epirus/

Alimbeis - Alexis Zoumbas

This Old Dance from Zagori is an example of one of the heaviest slow dances of the region. This was recorded in 1930. I mention this recording in Chapter 4: "You Known, Greeks Don't Even Like This Music."

Old Dance From Zagori - M. Harisis Epirotic Orchestra

Pios Plousios Apethane or "Poor and Rich Must Die" is a traditional Pogonian lamentation and a song that transcends geography,temporality.  I write about this song in Chapter 5: That's Going To Leave A Mark.
For more information or purchase, please visit: 
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/lament-from-epirus/

Pios Plousios Apethane - Demetris Halkias

Samantakas is a slow hypnotic dance tune commemorating the agile choreography of an Albanian warrior sentenced to die.  This is the dance where I was first "played into" by the musicians in the group called Takimi. I describe this event in Chapter 4: That's Going To Leave A Mark.
For more information or purchase, please visit: 
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/lament-from-epirus/

Samantakas - Manthos Halkias Epirotic Orchestra

The Selfos by Demetris Halkias is one of the unique instrumentals from Epirus that demonstrates the tonal awareness of the musicians in the region.  I write about this performance and its structure and function in Chapter 3: "You Known Greeks Don't Even Like This Music."
For more information or purchase, please visit: 
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/lament-from-epirus/

Why The Mountains Are Black - Primeval Greek Village Music : 1907-1960

Selfos (Nightingale) - Demetris Halkias

Alexis Zoumbas's "Epirotiko Mirologi" or "Lament From Epirus" is the recording that propels the narrative of this book.  It was the 78 disc that convinced me to journey to northwestern Greece and uncover the meaning of this music.  Although it is mentioned throughout the book, I give it a deep treatment in Chapter 5: Zoumbas's Lament.
For more information or purchase, please visit: 
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/lament-from-epirus/

Long Gone Sound

Popular tracks