Five centuries of music in blue and white

Inspired by the bicentennial of the beginning of the Greek revolution, the newly established Alkman Saxophone Quartet will present a concert on July 16 called Five Centuries of Music in Blue and White: from Leontaridis to Koumentakis and Glass.

With this programme, the quartet attempts to encompass five centuries of Greek music through the unique sounds of the saxophone quartet. Specifically, the relatively unknown Greek composer from the Renaissance Francesco Londarit detto il Greco – the first known Greek composer of modern times according to Nicolaos Panagiotakis – converses with the contemporary emblematic composer Giorgos Koumentakis. Their connecting link is Crete as their common place of origin. They combine with the arranging skill of saxophonist and composer Giorgos Daravelis.

Moreover, this conversation is strengthened by encompassing Asia Minor and Cyprus through Daravelis’ Asia Minor Suite and Forgotten Heroes (world premiere), written for the unknown Greek heroes who fought during the invasion of Cyprus in 1974, as well as Dancing with the Sax of Cypriot composer Michalis Andronikou. Finally, through the presentation of the Saxophone Quartet by renowned American composer Philip Glass, the quartet attempts to connect Greek musical traditions with contemporary art music, as well as Greek music elements from the old world with the new world at the other side of the Atlantic.

Getting the name Alkaman from a Lydian or Ionic choral lyric poet, who shaped choral poetry in Sparta as a unique literary form, the recently formed saxοphone quartet is founded as a partnership between Greek and Cypriot saxophonists Christos Zenios (soprano sax), Giorgos Daravelis (alto sax), Theofilos Sotiriades (tenor sax), Yiannis Miralis (baritone sax). All members are well-known soloists and music educators with rich and diverse artistic careers. The quartet aims to promote classical saxophone in the Eastern Mediterranean through performing and commissioning authentic works for the medium.

Alkman Saxοphone Quartet

Saxophonists present a special concert inspired by the bicentennial of the beginning of the Greek revolution. July 16. Technopolis 20, Paphos. 8pm. €12. Presales online. Tel: 7000-2420