“Sounds of Constantinople”

BYZANTINE CULTURE MUSEUM AETRIO

Literary music and folk songs of Constantinople

In this particular concert, indicative works from the field of Logia, secular music of the urban space of the City, will be performed. Among them, instrumental compositions by Greek musicians who performed either in the palaces or in the context of musical performances with a folk character. At the same time, some Phanariot songs will be presented that refer to the musical environment of the urban elite of the Phanariot, in the 19th century. Finally, songs by unknown authors known from performances by Constantinople performers on 78 rpm records during the interwar period will be performed. All of the above will be framed with appropriate improvisational (instrumental and vocal) practices, such as Taksim, Gazelles and Amanedes.

Dimosthenis Karachristodoulou

He was born in 1997 in Athens and at the age of 13 he began his involvement with music. Through instrument making he came into contact with the lyre and lute of Constantinople. Graduate of the Simon Karras School in the Instrument Making Department. He has studied alongside Giorgos Kontogiannis, Stratis Psaradellis, Markos Skoulios and Nikos Andrikos. He has attended seminars with Socrates Sinopoulos and Derya Türkan. He collaborates with artists such as Nikos Andrikos, Christos Tsiamoulis, Thomas Meleteas, Vasilis Filippou, Fenia Papadodima, Christos Kanellos Malamas, Israel Varela and others, participating in concerts and recordings. He is also a member of the original musical group Lyra Quartet under the direction of Socrates Sinopoulos. Graduate of the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina, specializing in the political lyra.

Anna Kouklaki

Anna Kouklaki was born in Athens in 2001, originally from Chania and Heraklion, Crete. She is a senior student at the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina, specializing in the kanunaki and her teacher was Apostolos Tsardakas. Her involvement with music began early as she grew up in a musical family environment. Her relationship with the instrument began at the age of 8 with Efi Zaitidou and she then attended the Music School of Pallini, where she studied alongside Tasos Poulios, with whom she graduated. During her career, she has attended numerous seminars and courses with important teachers, while she systematically attended the seminars of the “Labyrinth” Music Workshop with Göksel Baktagir.

Her first concert appearance took place in 2012 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, at the concert-tribute to the memory of Domna Samiou. Since then, she has participated in numerous concerts and activities in Greece and abroad. Since 2025, she has been teaching kanunaki at the “School of Psaltikis” music school in Marousi.

Nikos Andronikos

Nikos Andronikos is an Associate Professor at the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina. He holds a PhD in Musicology (Ionian University) and a Postdoctoral degree (University of the Aegean). Between 2004-2007 he studied and researched in Constantinople, while he officially sang at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, alongside Leonidas Asteris. He has released three albums of his own compositions, three albums of Church music, and has given numerous concerts in Greece and abroad, playing the lafta, tambourine and singing, in collaboration with internationally renowned artists. He has published two books, numerous articles in international scientific journals and conference proceedings. His scientific interests relate to issues concerning the idiomatic character of Church music, compositional production during the late Ottoman period, as well as the modal theoretical systems of Eastern musical culture.

Νikos Paraoulakis

He was born in Ierapetra, Crete, in 1977. In 1995 he moved to Athens to study music. He holds a degree in Higher Theory with professors Panagiotis Adam, Joseph Papadatos and Vasilis Foster, Classical Guitar with Thanasis Koumenteris and Jazz Guitar with Giotis Samaras. Since 2000 he has focused on the Greek and Eastern tradition, studying ney alongside Haris Lambrakis and Ömer Erdoğdular. He has collaborated in concerts and on discography with important Greek and foreign composers and musicians. In 2005-2006 he taught ney at the Department of Folk and Traditional Music of the TEI of Epirus.

His personal discography includes the albums:

• “From Light and Darkness” (2014): His own music, orchestration and production, with lyrics by D. Papacharalambous and performed by Alk. Ioannidis, M. Lidakis, Ap. Rizos, M. Dakanalis, M. Kotis, N. Venetakis, M. Fasoulakis, P. Papaioannou and Z. Vergakis.
• “En Route” (2022): Orchestral album of his own composition and production, which he presents with the Nikos Paraoulakis Quintet.

He has been an active member of the Polis Ensemble since 2015, with whom they have released the albums:

• “Polis Ensemble” (2019),
• “Echos Ellinikos” (2021),
• “Kalanta” (2023) and
• “Polis Ensemble II” (2026).