Polyphonic Singing of Epirus featuring Isokratisses and Christopher C. King

Isokratisses is a vocal ensemble of eight women who carry on the ancient tradition of polyphonic songs from Epirus. Born and reared in the Greek-speaking villages around Deropoli and Politsani, the women of Isokratisses have sung these songs since childhood. The members of Isokratisses were nurtured by this archaic music, listening to and singing songs passed down from generation to generation with their family and friends. Their music reasserts the primacy of female voices in the southern Balkans while revitalizing the art. The polyphonic songs of Epirus are part of an ancient oral tradition, social music that has long been woven into the fabric of poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised communities. Many of the songs are variations of mirologia – songs of fate, songs of mourning – that were once sung throughout the southern Balkans but have largely disappeared except for Epirus. Isokratisses have just returned from their successful tour of the United States including a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and a release of their first album on Jack White's Third Man Records label.

Their friend, GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, musicologist, archivist, and author Christopher C. King (Lament from Epirus: An Odyssey into Europe's Oldest Surviving Folk Music) will present their music. He will play 78s of polyphonic singing from the 1920s through the 1950s and describe the context of polyphonic singing in Epirus.

This is a rare opportunity for fans of traditional music and the culture of Epirus to participate in such a musical celebration.

The event will be in English and there will be simultaneous translation in Greek.

Free admission.