Chainides ( el, Χαΐνηδες) is a
Cretan
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...
folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
group who are inspired by
the vast legacy of traditional
Cretan music and whose lyrics borrow words
from the
Cretan Greek dialect. The group's name is the plural of the word ''chaínis''
( el, χαΐνης), meaning the fugitive rebel.
History
The group was formed in March 1990 by a group of friends, namely Dimitris Apostolakis, Dimitris Zacharioudakis, Giorgos Laodikis, Miltos Pashalidis and Kallia Spyridaki. Most of
them were then students at the
University of Crete
The University of Crete (UoC; Greek: Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης) is a multi-disciplinary, research-oriented institution in Crete, Greece, located in the cities of Rethymno (official seat) and Heraklion, and one of the country's most aca ...
. Their discographical debut was in
1991 with the album ''Chainides'' that was warmly received by the public. Chainides
rapidly grew to seven members and released three more albums before being temporarily
dissolved in 1997. One year later, Dimitris Apostolakis and Dimitris Zaharioudakis
reinstated the group that was joined by the new members Maria Koti, Alexis Nonis,
Periklis Tsoukalas and Antonis Skamnakis.
Over the years, Chainides have collaborated with several well-known musicians and singers.
They have performed in several locations both in Greece and abroad and have recorded seven
studio albums. In their live performances, Chainides blend their own compositions and songs
with new arrangements of themes and songs from traditions such as those of
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
and
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
.
Group Members
:Dimitris Apostolakis -
Cretan lyra, vocals
:Dimitris Zaharioudakis - acoustic guitar, vocals
:Angeliki Syrkou - vocals
:Mihalis Nikopoulos - mandolin,
bouzouki,
laouto
The laouto ( el, λαούτο, pl. laouta ) is a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family, found in Greece and Cyprus, and similar in appearance to the oud. It has four double-strings. It is played in most respects like the oud (plucked w ...
:Peter Jaques - trumpet, clarinet,
ney
The ''ney'' ( fa, Ney/نی, ar, Al-Nāy/الناي), is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Persian music and Arabic music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continually ...
:Mihalis Galanis - drums
:Giorgos Konstantinou - bass
Discography
* 1991 - ''Χαΐνηδες (Chainides)''
* 1993 - ''Κόσμος κι όνειρο είναι ένα (Kosmos ki oniro ine ena)''
* 1994 - ''Με κόντρα τον καιρό (Me kontra ton kero)''
* 1997 - ''Το μεγάλο ταξίδι (To megalo taxidi)''
* 2000 - ''Ο ξυπόλητος πρίγκηπας (O xipolitos prigipas)'', double album
* 2002 - ''Δελτίο ειδήσεων (Deltio idiseon)'', 3 songs
* 2005 - ''Ο γητευτής και το δρακοδόντι (O giteftis kai to drakodonti)'', double album
* 2007 - ''Ο Καραγκιόζης στη Γιουροβίζιον (O Karagiozis stin Eurovision)''
* 2008 - ''Η κάθοδος των Σαλτιμπάγκων (I kathodos ton Saltimpagon)''
* 2011 - ''Αγροκτηνοτροφικά και Μητροπολιτικά (Agroktinotrofika & Mitropolitika)'', double album
Impact
Chainides have treated the Cretan music tradition with love and respect,
considering it as something very much alive rather than a thing of a gone past.
The group's success is considered to have paved the road for other young artists
to embrace the Cretan music tradition and attempt to enrich it with new elements.
See also
*
Greek folk music
*
Cretan music
External links
Chainides official web siteChainides in mySpace
{{Authority control
Folk music groups
Greek musical groups
Greek folk musicians