Greatest Melodies Of: Theodorakis, Markopoulos, Xarhakos, Hajidakis - 3

BEST SERIES, No.3 This record, No. 3 in the BEST series, consists of four musical unities, each representing a different composer. It comprises twenty-four Greek melodies by the most notable Greek composers - namely. Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadzidakis, Stavros Xarhakos and Yannis Markopoulos. These melodies are the greatest hit songs of the last thirty years in Greece and have become classics. Some of them, like ''Never on Sunday" by M. Hadzidakis, the music from the film "Zorba the Greek" by M. Theodorakis, "The trains have left" by S. Xarhakos and the "Ferryman" by Y. Markopoulos are widely known abroad. The orchestration of the music of this record is by Kostas Papadopou-tos, the greatest Greek bouzouki solist and permanent collaborator of M. Theodorakis. Kostas Papadopoulos is also the conductor of the orchestra. The first unity includes music by M. Theodorakis, the most important Greek composer, who has been one of the protagonists of the cultural revolution in Greek music in the early '60s. M. Theodorakis has greatly contributed to the progress and evolution of the Greek song by creating new ways of musical expression and interpretation. He was the first of the known Greek popular composers to have used the bouzouki in his orchestra and has succeeded, more than anyone else, in making modern Greek music known throughout the world. He has made a vast number of records and has written music for the poetry of famous Greek and foreign poets. His works form an historical landmark in the evolution of the Greek popular music by known composers. The second unity contains music by M: Hadzidakis, a composer of international renown. Endowed with rare talent and great sensitivity, he was the first to make the Greek music known abroad. His first appearance in Greece dates back to 1947, when he composed music for the theatre and cinema. He has made numerous records and many of his works have become great classic successes. The Third unity includes compositions by S. Xarhakos, who occupies a distinguished place in the Greek musical world. His songs have become classics of the Greek popular music. The melodies recorded here were composed between 1962 and 1968 and are associated with the best moments of modern Greek music. The fourth and last unity contains compositions by Y. Markopoulos, written in the period between 1970 and 1980. Y. Markopoulos is the inspirer of the movement for the "Return to the Roots". He has combined traditional Greek elements with the artistic form of Greek popular music. With his exceptional talent, he has used music instruments from both the popular and the demotic music to create a completely new sound. He is the composer of great successes, among which the well-known "Ferryman". Stelios Aerakis, March 1984