Last Sunday, the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, in collaboration with the “Pontoxeneteas” Association of New South Wales and the Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales, orchestrated an event celebrating two pivotal facets of Modern Greek culture: Crete and Pontus.
The occasion revolved around an exploration of the time-honoured songs and melodies that have sprung from these regions, casting a radiant spotlight on their profound historical and cultural import.
The event cast a wide net, drawing in a diverse audience comprised of Greek-Australians, distinguished representatives from the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales, the Archdiocese of Australia, as well as several other esteemed Greek community associations nestled within Sydney’s vibrant mosaic.
Taking centre stage as the keynote speaker was Dr. Alfred Vincent, an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney and a Modern Greek Studies luminary who delved into the historical context that had meticulously shaped the unique traditions of Crete and Pontus, with a laser focus on their shared linguistic, cultural, and musical threads.
Dr. Vincent illuminated the striking parallels embedded within the traditional songs and music of these emblematic regions of contemporary Greek culture.
These encompassed the use of the fifteen-syllable verse and the thematic harmonies that unite them.Among these shared themes are the mythical figure of Digenis Akrita, the enduring trials that both regions have weathered through the ages, the enduring yearning for their ancestral homeland, the clandestine observance of Christianity during the Ottoman era, and lyrical motifs steeped in marriage and an unwavering zest for life.Following thelecture, attendees were treated to the evocative strains of traditional music, weaving a sonorous bridge between Crete and Pontus.
The stage was graced by musicians such as Peter Diniakos, Alexander Mountakis, Prodromos Moysiadis, Kosta Papoulidis, Ari Paraskakis, and Peter Tsenkas.Vassiliki Polyzoi, the Director of the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments “Phoivos Anogianakis”-Ethnomusicology Center, expressed her ardent hopes that this inspired initiative would continue to explore the rich tapestry of Greek musical traditions and resonate with the vibrant Greek communities strewn across Australia.
This effort builds upon three decades of honouring emblematic musical traditions, forging cultural connections.
As the event’s finale, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, warmly extended his congratulations to Dr. Vincent, accentuating the paramount significance of preserving the Greek language among Greeks living abroad.He aptly summed up the occasion by saying, “The historical memory and enduring heritage woven into these traditional songs and melodies underscore the Greek language’s pivotal role as a unifying and identity-defining force for the diaspora.”
