Melody in Greek folk music
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify the typical features of melody in Greek folk music and perform them in Thalassaki Mou.
Key learning points
- The bouzouki has a characteristic playing style that uses slides and tremolo.
- Instrumental and vocal melodies are often harmonised with thirds.
- Melodies in Greek folk music are mostly conjunct and use ornamentation.
- The vocal melodies are often conjunct and melismatic, like in Thalassaki Mou.
Keywords
Third - an interval of two tones or three semitones
Slide - when a performer moves seamlessly between two pitches
Tremolo - a rapid repetition of a note or notes
Melismatic - a melody in which many notes are sung for just one syllable of a word
Conjunct - when notes move by step, they do not leap
Common misconception
The bouzouki sounds the same as a guitar.
The bouzouki has very specific techniques that give it its characteristic sound. These include use of tremolo, slides and thirds. Although these can be used on the guitar, they are not as common as on the bouzouki.
Teacher tip
If appropriate, consider encouraging pupils to put together group performances of Thalassaki Mou. They could do this with a percussion instrument playing a 7/8 pattern (as in lesson 1) and the melody on another instrument(s). They could also incorporate the backing track into this.
Equipment
DAW and/or live instruments
File needed for this lesson
Thalassaki Mou template 6.36 MB (ZIP)
Download this file to use in the lesson.
Licence
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