The Unsung History of Greek Jewish Women in the early 20th century

Organized by: The Gennadius Library

The award-winning American ethnomusicologist Christopher C. King curates a trilogy of musical lectures dedicated to the rich and marginalized history of Jewish women’s music in Greece, that will be presented to the audience of Athens, Thessaloniki and Ioannina on May 24th, 26th and 29th, respectively.

During the events, Mr. King will present the stories and songs of the Romaniote Jewish singer from Ioannina, Amalia Vaka (Matsa) and the Sephardic Jewish singers from Thessaloniki, Rosa Eskenazy and Stella Haskil. The musical meetings will be moderated by Marianna Skylakaki (Journalist), Athena Katsanevaki (School for Music Studies Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, ΕΕΠ Specializing Research Staff, Ethnomusicologist-Traditional singing) and Katerina Kafentzi (Historian, Music Curator, Radio Producer).

The events are supported by the U.S. Embassy in Greece, the U.S. Consulate General in Thessaloniki, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece and the Municipality of Ioannina.

At these events, Mr. King will play the original 78 rpm discs of these musicians, produce an audio-visual program, and discuss the relationship between Greek traditional music and the Jewish artists who either lived in Greece or played extensively in the country before they migrated to the United States. There will also be live music at each event, performed by small groups of musicians.

Christopher C. King states "I perceive the vitality--the health--of a culture through the diversity and intensity of its folk music. Greece, during the early 20th century, possessed one of the most vibrant and diverse folk music environments in the world, owing in large part to the diversity of ethnic, religious, linguistic, and geographic backgrounds of its musicians and songs. In the twenty-first century, will the vitality of Greek folk music persist without celebrating the diversity of its roots?"

Christopher C. King is an American musicologist, activist, writer and a 2002 Grammy Award winner. His book "The Lament of Epirus" was published in 2018.

Strategic partners of the events are the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, the Jewish Community of Athens, the Jewish Community of Ioannina and the Department of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.