The music of Crete is one of the oldest in Greece and even Europe. The history of this music is the result of a long history of cultural change. Although various cultures have left their mark over the centuries, the old traditions have remained alive.

This is well reflected in today's Cretan Greek language, which is full of Italian (especially Venetian) and Turkish words. When the Venetians ruled Crete, the Italians set up music schools that combined Byzantine music with Italian elements. As a result, Cretan music is very different from that of the continent, being complex and performed in rhythms rarely found in Western music, such as 7/8 or 9/8.

Agnė Nemanytė - director and researcher of traditional music - invites you to the evening event "The infectious music of Crete". She will introduce you to the different musical styles of Cretan folklore, such as Rizitika, Mandinades, Erotokritos, as well as music for the island's dances, such as Syrtos, Maleviziotis, Syganos. Agnė will talk about some of Crete's most famous musicians, such as Nikos Xylouris, Antonis Ksilouris (Psarantonis), Charalampos Garganourakis and others, and will share her personal recordings from her research trip to Crete.

We invite you to join us and immerse yourself in the world of Cretan music!