This is the first track of a new instrumental project I've entitled "It's All Greek to Me", as I explore the myths and legends of Ancient Greece. 

I'm using Ancient Greek instruments featured in the 'Ancient Worlds VST Library from Big Fish Audio', underpinned with classical orchestral instruments.  There are some very interesting sounds in it that do seem to evoke a time long ago. 

Since the project is based around some of the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, I wanted a generic opening track that would introduce the listener to some of the sounds and set an overall tone for the project. I really wanted a different feel from a typical 'all guns blazing' modern film score since it isn't accompanying live action but is hopefully a piece in its own right. 

So a piece with the title "A Time of Heroes" seemed like a good idea to kick off the project. :-)

Instrumentation Used

Lyre - it was one of the most important and well-known stringed instruments of Greek Antiquity.

Kithara - this was considered the “professional” instrument of antiquity, and the public highly regarded kithara players.

Kavali - this is a chromatic end-blown flute traditionally played throughout Armenia, the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey. 

Flogera - is a type of flute used in Greek folk music. It is a simple end-blown bamboo flute without a fipple, which is played by directing a narrow air stream against its sharp, open upper end. It typically has seven finger holes.

Water Pumpkins - also called “Water Drums” these instruments can be found in Africa (Mali) and other continents. Water Pumpkins are played with the hands or with soft mallets. They usually come in pairs and have a diameter of 32 - 36 cm. The deeper bowl is filled with water, the smaller one is set on the water. The pitch of the water drums can be tuned by changing the water level inside the floating shell.

Antique Cymbals - are the ancestors of the modern metal cymbals. During the Minoan period, they arrived on the island of Crete from Asia.

Pan Flute - this is an ancient instrument, associated with the demigod Pan, who was the protector of the woods and the shepherds. Variations of the instrument used a number between three and eighteen pipes. The classic Greek Pan Flute used pipes of the same length. 

In addition to the ancient instruments above the track also features :-

Orchestral CS Strings (Albion One - Spitfire)
Viola Ensemble (Piz and Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Cello Ensemble (Piz and Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Bass Ensemble Piz and Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
French Horn Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
Trombone Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
Tuba (Chris Hein Brass)
Bb Clarinet (Chris Hein Winds)
Snare Drum (VSL Big Bang Orchestra | Quasar)
XXL Percussion(Albion One - Spitfire)
St Peter's Choir (Halion 6)

A Time Of Heroes (It's All Greek to Me)

This is the second track of an instrumental project I've entitled "It's All Greek to Me", as I explore the myths and legends of Ancient Greece.

I'm using Ancient Greek instruments featured in the 'Ancient Worlds VST Library from Big Fish Audio', underpinned with classical orchestral instruments. There are some very interesting sounds in it that do seem to evoke a time long ago.

Background

According to Greek mythology, Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Despite modern iconography depicting the Sirens as mermaids, early Greek art depicted them as part woman, part bird.

For this piece a Greek galley is introduced with a steady drum pulse and some Greek instruments to set the scene. We start with the Pan Flute supported by the Strings (Lyre and Kithara). Cymbal rolls represent the waves. The melody then passes to the Flogera and Alto Flute and a lone Siren voice before all three make an appearance. From then on they all act in counterpoint to each other. 

As the Sirens continue to charm the sailors, the Samvyke is introduced (another stringed instrument) as a sort of controlled tension that slowly gets a bit more frantic as the track starts to build. French Horns and Percussion herald the full fury of the Sirens unleashed on the luckless sailors. Helpless to resist, their boat is dashed upon the rocks. 

As the ship begins to break up on the rocky shore the track goes much smaller with a mournful solo cello, supported by the other strings. I wanted a melancholic ending  and the descending figure is supposed to represent the sinking of the boat alongside an almost funeral drum pulse, it just leads down and down into the depths of the sea. More lives have been lost to this peril of the ancient world.

Instrumentation Used

Greek Stringed Instruments - Lyre, Kithara, Samvyke
Greek Wind Instruments - Kavali, Flogera, Pan Flute 
Greek Percussion - Bendir

In addition to the ancient instruments above the track also features :-

Orchestral CS Strings (Albion One - Spitfire)
Violin Ensemble (Octave Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Viola Ensemble (Octave Long and Flautando)(Chris Hein Strings)
Cello Ensemble (Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Bass Ensemble (Octave Long)(Chris Hein Strings)
Solo Cello (Chris Hein Strings)
Alto Flute (Chris Hein Winds)
French Horn Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
Trombone Ensemble (Chris Hein Brass)
Tuba (Chris Hein Brass)

'The Sirens' - Shevannai vocal library (Eduardo Tarilonte)

XXL Percussion(Albion One - Spitfire)
Rolled Cymbals (Albion One - Spitfire)
St Peter's Choir (Halion 6)
Boat Breaking FX (Halion 6)

The Sirens (It's All Greek to Me)

It's All Greek To Me's George Diakomichalis joins 5AA Afternoons to share his love of all things Greek and a few recipes too!

FIVEaa - George Diakomichalis

A collection of songs, instrumentals and orchestral pieces charting my adventures in home studio recording and production.  All original compositions using voice, acoustic and electric guitar (sometimes using altered tunings), bouzouki, low and high whistles and MIDI instrumentation. 

I'm also using VST instrumentation to create classical compositions and integrating orchestral sounds into my songs and instrumentals.

Links to various instrumental projects and other Social Media links are available below.

My Eclectic Music Connections repost thread is here

https://soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki-repost

New tracks tagged #It&#x27;s All Greek to Me

New tracks tagged #It's All Greek to Me