#mindpower

#mindpower – meet Psarantonis in Greece
In the 20th episode of the #mindpower project, the Greek composer, singer and performer of lyre, Psarantonis, reads an excerpt from Aspazija’s poem “Silk Veil” from “An Armful of Flowers” (1911) poetry collection. It speaks about small nations that have great cultural heritage.

Antonis Xylouris, nicknamed Psarantonis (Greek: Ψαραντώνης), comes from the mountainous village of Anogeia in Crete. He started playing the lyre when he was nine and his first public performances were traditional wedding feasts. Since 1960s he has recorded 30 albums and performed in Europe, North America and Australia. Psarantonis is known for the special timbre of his voice and his lyre playing style characterised by musical dynamism: sometimes gently whispered, then suddenly a great storm rises only to quickly abate again and sink into mythic silence.

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Grieķu komponists, dziedātājs un liras virtuozs Psarantonis (īstajā vārdā Antonis Ksiluris) dzimis Krētas salā. Mūziķa gaitas viņš sācis, uzstājoties grieķu tradicionālajās kāzās. Psarantonis guvis ievērību ar savu īpašo spēles un dziedāšanas stilu, kam raksturīga muzikāla dinamika – no maigiem čukstiem līdz pēkšņām skaņu vētrām, kas tikpat negaidīti norimst un ieslīgst mītiskā klusumā.

Projekta #domasspēks 20.epizodē Psarantonis lasa fragmentu no Aspazijas dzejoļa “Zīdautiņš”, kas iekļauts krājumā “Ziedu klēpis” (1911) un stāsta par mazām tautām, kurām ir liels kultūras mantojums.