Yannis Markopoulos

Yannis Markopoulos, 2011

Yannis Markopoulos ( Greek Γιάννης Μαρκόπουλος , Giannis Markopoulos , born March 18, 1939 in Heraklion , Crete , Greece ) is a Cretan- Greek composer and singer .

Life

Childhood and youth

Yannis Markopoulos was born in Heraklion / Crete in 1939 and comes from an old family on the island. He is the son of the Prefect of the Lasithi Region Georg Markopoulos, his mother was Irene Aeraki from Sitia . The eminent Greek composer spent his youth in Ierapetra . At the age of eight he learned violin and clarinet and played Cretan folk music in a local band from Ierapetra. In addition to traditional Cretan music, symphonic music also shaped his first musical experiences significantly.

After graduating from high school, he went to Athens in 1956 to study with the composer Georg Sklavos and the violin teacher Joseph Bustidui at the Athens Conservatory . There he began his career composing musicals . He dealt not only with traditional Greek and especially Cretan music, but also with Byzantine church music and developed from both his own style of popular contemporary Greek music. At the same time he was admitted to study philosophy and sociology at the Pantion University of Athens .

First career steps

Markopoulos had his greatest successes in the 60s and 70s and was one of the leading figures in the Greek musical landscape at that time. In 1963 he received an award for his music for the film Mikres Aphrodites / Little Aphrodites by the director Nikos Koundouros at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival . In the same year his compositions Theseus (music for ballet ), Hiroshima (ballet suite) and Tria skiza gia choro / Three sketches for dance were premiered by young music and dance ensembles.

In 1967 the military dictatorship was established and Markopoulos had to leave Greece. In London he worked with the English composer Elisabeth Lutyens . During this time he composed the secular cantata Ilios o protos / Sonne, the first by Odysseas Elytis - awarded the Nobel Prize in 1979 - and the music for Aristophanes Lysistrata for the Theatron Technis, directed by Karolos Koun. At the same time he completed the composition of the ceremonial music Ιδού ο Νυμφίος / See, the Bridegroom, which is still unpublished, with the exception of the part Ζάβαρα-κάτρα-νέμια / Sawara-katra-nemia, which is one of the most famous works by the composer. During this time he got to know the composers Iannis Xenakis and Jani Christou and became familiar with their innovative music projects. In London he finally composed the Chrismous / Oracle for symphony orchestra and the first Πυρρίχιοι / Pyrrichioi dances, the composition of which he completed in 2001. These works were premiered in 1968 by the London Concertante at Queen Elizabeth Hall. During this time he also composed the music for The Tempest (Shakespeare) , which was performed by the Royal National Theater in London under the direction of David Hugh Jones .

Music against the military dictatorship

In 1969 he returned to Athens to contribute to the restoration of democracy with his works. Protest songs he created against the Greek military dictatorship 1967–1974, which were mostly sung by the singer Nikos Xylouris , who also came from Crete , contributed significantly to his popularity. Markopoulos discovered in the 1970s a. a. the singer Lizetta Nikolaou , he introduced a new and peculiar form of orchestra and expressed the harmonious coexistence of symphonic and traditional instruments with his orchestration . At the same time, he emphatically suggested “going back to the roots”. By this he meant the "shaping of the future through introspection and turning to the indestructible sources of the living art of the world as well as selected contemporary works of art". This proposal from him took on the dimensions of an art movement. Shortly thereafter he founded the Palintonos Armonia Orchestra, which consists of symphonic and traditional Greek instruments. He presented his works in the Lidra recording studio . His songs Oi ochtroi / The enemies, Ta logia ke ta chronia / The words and the years, Chilia myria kymata / Thousands of myriad waves, Lengo-Hellas, O Gigandas / the giant, Kato stis Margaritas to alonaki / Down there on the small threshing floor by Margarita, To kafenion i Ellas / Das Café Hellas, O topos mas ine klistos / Our land is enclosed, Ta paraponemena logia / The plaintive words, Milo gia ta pedia mou / I speak for my children and many others were symbolic songs of protest against the Dictatorship. The multi-part works Eleftheroi Poliorkimenoi / The free besieged, Ο Stratis thalassinos anamesa stous agapanthous / Stratis thalassinos between the ornamental lilies, Ilios o Protos / Sun, the First, Chronicle / Chroniko, Thiteia / Period of Service and Metanastes / Emigrants also enjoyed great popularity. Most of his compositions are based not only on elements of traditional Greek music, but also on texts by famous Greek poets such as Dionysios Solomos , Giorgos Seferis , Odysseas Elytis , Giannis Ritsos , Kostas Georgousopoulos, Dimitris Varos or Michalis Katsaros.

Create after the restoration of democracy

With the theme music for the British TV series “ Who Pays the Ferryman? “He achieved an international hit. The successful music theme of the series was at the top of the British charts for months and made the composer known internationally. In the following years, Markopoulos received numerous invitations and made several tours around the world. He attended and gave concerts in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Naples, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Brussels, London and in various cities in Russia and Australia.

In his artistic production during this time, music for theater and film was very important: music for the plays by Euripides , Aristophanes , Menander , William Shakespeare , Anton Pavlovich Chekhov , Samuel Beckett, but also for modern Greek playwrights and for the films by Nikos Koundouros, Jules Dassin , George Cosmatos, Manousos Manousakis, George Skalenakis, Grigoriou u. a.

Created in the 80s, in the 90s and at the beginning of the 21st century

In 1980 he married his longtime collaborator and singer Vassiliki Lavina. Their daughter was then born. For a while, the composer was looking for more private life with his family and opened a new chapter in his music production. The compositions of this time include chamber music works, four quartets, two sonatas, five pieces of music for piano and violin. Also larger compositions such as the Concert Rhapsody for Cretan Lyra and Symphony Orchestra; the Mitroa gia orchistra enchordon / registers for string orchestra ; the Symphonia tis Iasis / Symphony of Healing as well as two oratorios and two song cycles were published. In 1994 he composed one of his most important works, the Liturgy of Orpheus - for voice, choir and orchestra - which is philosophically dedicated to redefining the relationship between man and nature. This was followed by the Ana-gennisi Kriti anamesa se Venetia κe Πoli / Re-naissance - Crete between Venice and Constantinople: A musical journey in four units; the opera Erotokritos and Areti; the Schimata se kinisi / forms in motion; die Ευήλια τοπία / Sunny Landscapes: Fantasy for solo flute; O Nomos tis Thalporis / The law of comfort: oratorio / musical spectacle for solo voices, choir, wind orchestra , ballet and pictures; 16 Pyrrichioi Choroi (1980-2001) / Sixteen Pyrrichii Dances (1980-2001); the Triptycho gia flaouto, enchorda ke arpa / Triptychon for flute, string instruments and harp (2007) and the Erotiki Symphonia / Symphonie des Eros (2010).

Discography

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Albums

Who Pays The Ferryman   UK 22nd 08/26/1978 (8 weeks)

Singles

Who Pays The Ferryman   UK 11 December 17, 1977 (8 weeks)

CDs and digitized LPs

• 2009 Η λειτουργία του Ορφέα (The Liturgy of Orpheus): For solo voices, mixed choir, speaker and symphony orchestra
• 2009 Σχήματα σε κίνηση (forms in motion): piano concerto, for solo piano and symphony orchestra
• 2004 τ ταχύτατος Λούης (The super-fast Spyridon Louis): For solo voices, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
• 2003 Ερωτόκριτος και Αρετή (Erotókritos and Aretí): Opera in two acts
• 2001 Το τραγούδι του Αχιλλέα (The Song of Achilles): For solo voices, mixed choir, speaker and symphony orchestra
• 1996 Ανα-γέννηση - Κρήτη ανάμεσα σε Βενετιά και Πόλη (Re-naissance - Crete between Venice and Constantinople): music performance in two acts with four sections
• 1998 Φίλοι που φεύγουν (friends who go away): song circle
• 1996 Ανταύγειες (shimmer): Orchestral memories of movements and images
• 1994 Η λειτουργία του Ορφέα (The Liturgy of Orpheus): For solo voices, mixed choir, speaker and symphony orchestra
• 1988 Μουσική για το Δομήνικο Θεοτοκόπουλο — Ελ Γκρέκο (music for Dominikos Theotokopoulos — El Greco): suite for instruments of the Renaissance
• 1983 Σειρήνες (Sirens): musical journey into four ages in the form of the oratorio
• 1980 Ορίζοντες (Horizonte): Liederkreis
• 1980 Ντενεκεδούπολη (Tin Can City): musical performance for children
• 1979 Σεργιάνι στον κόσμο (walk through the world): song circle in four units
• 1978 Who pays the Ferryman? (Who Pays the Ferryman?): Music for the BBC TV series of the same name.
• 1978 Περιοδεία πρώτη (first tour): 13 compositions for orchestra
• 1977 Οι ελεύθεροι πολιορκημένοι (The Free Besieged): Folk liturgy, for solo voices, speaker and orchestra
• 1975 Οροπέδιο (plateau): music dialogue
• 1974 Θητεία (period of service): musical work in nine parts in the form of an atypical opera
• 1974 Μετανάστες (emigrants): song circle
• 1974 Θεσσαλικός κύκλος (Thessalian Circle): folk music piece with theatrical snaps
• 1973 Ο Στρατής Θαλασσινός ανάμεσα στους αγαπανθούς και άλλα τραγούδια (Stratis Thalasinos between the ornamental lilies and other songs): for solo voices, choir and orchestra
• 1973 Ανεξάρτητα (Independent): series of songs
• 1972 Ιθαγένεια (nationality): For solo voices and orchestra
• 1972 Τα τραγούδια του νέου πατέρα (The songs of the young father): Liederkreis
• 1970 Χρονικό (Chronicle): For solo voices and orchestra
• 1969 Ήλιος ο πρώτος (Sun, the First): For solo voices, speakers, women's choir and orchestra
• 1961 Θησέας (Theseus): ballet

Older LPs and cassettes

• 1963 - ΘΗΣΕΑΣ - Μαίρη Δαλάκου - Theseus
• 1964 - Το κορίτσι με το κορδελάκι
• 1965 - No Mister Johnson (12 λαϊκά σχήματα)
• 1967 - Το πιο λαμπρό αστέρι (film music) - The brightest star
• 1968 - Επιχείρησις Απόλλων - Apollo company
• 1969 - Ήλιος ο πρώτος (Philips) - The first sun
• 1970 - Χρονικό (Philips) - Chronicle
• 1971 - Ριζίτικα (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1972 - Ιθαγένεια (MINOS)
• 1972 - Διάλειμμα (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1974 - Μετανάστες (ΜΙΝΟS) - emigrants
• 1974 - Θητεία (Columbia) - service
• 1974 - Θεσσαλικός κύκλος (ΜΙΝΟS) - Thessalian District
• 1975 - Τα τραγούδια του νέου πατέρα (Polydor) - The songs of the new father
• 1975 - Ανεξάρτητα (ΜΙΝΟS) - Independent
• 1976 - Οροπέδιο (ΜΙΝΟS) - plateau
• 1976 - Λαϊκά κεντήματα-14 τραγούδια με ορχήστρα (Polydor)
• 1976 - Εργάτες (Columbia) - worker
• 1977 - Ελεύθεροι πολιορκημένοι (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1978 - Περιοδεία πρώτη-13 τραγούδια με ορχήστρα (Mercury)
• 1979 - Σεργιάνι στον κόσμο (ΜΙΝΟS) - Walk through the world
• 1980 - Ντενεκεδούπολη (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1980 - Χρυσές επιτυχίες του Γιάννη Μαρκόπουλου (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1981 - Ορίζοντες (ΜΙΝΟS) - Horizons
• 1982 - "Βαριά λαϊκά" (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1982 - Παίζει Γιάννη Μαρκόπουλο (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1983 - Παράθυρο στη Μεσόγειο (ΜΙΝΟS) - Window to the Mediterranean
• 1984 - Του σίδερου και του νερού (Mercury) - Of iron and water
• 1985 - Ρεπορτάζ (ΜΙΝΟS) - report
• 1987 - Τολμηρή επικοινωνία (CBS) - Courageous communication
• 1988 - Ο Γιάννης Μαρκόπουλος στον Ελληνικό κινηματογράφο (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1988 - Ηλεκτρικός Θησέας (CBS) - Electric Theseus
• 1988 - Στον Ελληνικό κινηματογράφο (ΜΙΝΟS) - In Greek cinema
• 1990 - Τα κλασσικά του Γιάννη Μαρκόπουλου (ΜΙΝΟS)
• 1990 - Η συναυλία στο Ηρώδειο (live) (Philips) - Concert at Herodion (live)
• 1991 - Φίλοι που φεύγουν (ΜΙΝΟS) - friends who go away
• 1992 - Κύκλοι (ΜΙΝΟS) - circles
• 1996 - Ενότητες (ΜΙΝΟS) - units
• 1996 - Ανα-γέννηση (Lyra) - rebirth
• 1996 - 16 Σπάνιες ηχογραφήσεις 1964–1966 (Polydor) - 16 rare photos 1964–1966
• 1997 - Αθέατος σφυγμός (Columbia) - Invisible pulse rate

Web links

• Yannis Markopoulos in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Garganourakis - Music Of Crete .
2. ↑ naxos.com
3. ↑ naxos.com
4. ↑ naxos.com
5. ↑ thatsgreece.com ( Memento of the original from January 4, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
6. ↑ Lizetta Nikolaou . ( Memento of the original from September 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
7. ↑ naxos.com
8. ↑ naxos.com
9. ↑ naxos.com
10. ↑ naxos.com
11. ↑ naxos.com
12. ↑ naxos.com
13. ↑ prestoclassical.co.uk
14. ↑ naxos.com
15. ↑ ^{a b} Chart sources: UK