NEW YORK – A tribute to the traditional music of Epirus through the work of the Philhellene ethnomusicologist, writer and Grammy-winning producer Christopher C. King was presented on October 9 by the Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation (HACF) at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. The event was titled Christopher C. King: An American Southerner in Northern Greece.
With renowned author and award-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times Nicholas Gage as the moderator, as well as Aurel Kyrio (Nikolakis), Beth Bahia Cohen, and John Themelis to perform distinct pieces of Epirote music on stage, King’s work and his unique musical research received warm applause from the audience in the packed hall at the Rubin Museum of Art.
The central theme of the evening was King’s work entitled ‘Lament from Epirus: An Odyssey into Europe’s Oldest Surviving Folk Music’ which deals with the powerfully cathartic nature of this ancient Greek folk music. The volume was included on the Wall Street Journal’s list of the Best Books of 2018 and was also reviewed in The National Herald’s Literary column that year. King spoke with TNH about the book at that time and shared that he planned to move to Epirus permanently. He noted then that Epirus is not the “typical Greece,” and is a “completely different experience” than other regions of the country. The mountains and dramatic landscapes, the music, and the people have made a powerful impression on King.
The musical program included a performance of Epirote music, including pieces from King’s rare 78 rpm records. Veteran author and journalist Gage also presented important information regarding Epirus, his homeland, and moderated the Q&A session.
“A very nice event was organized with a great turnout, Gage told TNH. “The music of Epirus has influenced traditional music worldwide.”
“As Christopher said, we hear sounds of it in American blues, jazz, Irish, German, and Jewish folk songs,” Gage continued. “It is not only the oldest traditional music in the world, but also the most influential. The fact that it survives and still gathers such an audience shows its power, but also how it has inspired the people of Epirus for so many centuries.”
For his part, King, who has received honorary Greek citizenship and now resides permanently in Epirus, answered questions regarding the universality of the music of Epirus, its relationship with Indian music – which is partly connected to the common influence of the Roma – but also the role played by the Greek-American musicians who pursued it and recorded their records in the USA.
“Christopher King moved to Konitsa and sends his daughter to Greek schools. He is a champion of Epirote music,” Gage concluded.
Consul General of Greece in New York Iphigenia Kanara was also present at the event.
