Bouzouki - Revision history

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History

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History

Lazarus at 14:39, August 13, 2005

2005-08-13T14:39:41Z

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2005-08-13T13:52:33Z

Lazarus at 13:51, August 13, 2005

2005-08-13T13:51:58Z

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Lazarus at 13:39, August 13, 2005

2005-08-13T13:39:58Z

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[[Image:Bouzouki.jpg|thumb|120px|Greek (tetrachordo) Bouzouki]]

The '''bouzouki''' ([[greek language|gr.]] το μπουζούκι; [[plural|pl]]. τα μπουζούκια) (plural sometimes transliterated as '''bouzoukia''') is the mainstay of modern [[Greek music]], and is also found in [[Irish music]]. It is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a very long neck. The bouzouki is a member of the 'long neck [[lute]]' family and is similar to an oversized [[mandolin]]. The front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a [[plectrum]] and has a sharp metallic sound.

The best bouzouki is made of mulberry wood, which has a red hue. The bouzouki is called by other names in various parts of Greece: tsiouri, kivouri, bouzouri. In the days of rembetes, bouzouki consisted of the body (skafos) with its top, and the tachera. The tachera is divided into berdedes, and at the upper side are the striftaria with the kordatoura or telia.

There are three main types of bouzouki:

* ''Trichordo'' having three pairs of strings (courses).
* ''Tetrachordo'' having four pairs of strings.
* ''Irish''.

==The tetrachordo bouzouki==
This most popular bouzouki has 8 metal strings which are arranged in 4 pairs, known as courses. In the two higher-pitched (treble) courses, the two strings of the pair are tuned to the same note. These are used for playing melodies, usually with the two courses played together. In the two lower-pitched (bass) courses, the pair consists of a thick string and a thin string tuned an octave apart. These 'octave strings' add to the fullness of the sound and are used in
chords and bass drones (continuous low notes that are played throughout the music).

The original tuning for the four-course bouzouki is C3 F3 A3 D4 (where C4 is Middle C). This makes it the same tuning pattern as the first four strings on a guitar, but pitched down a whole tone. In recent times, some players have taken to tuning their bouzoukis up in pitch to D3G3B3E4, which is the same exactly as the first four strings of the guitar, making it easier to play both instruments.

==History ==
Despite being nearly synonymous with Greek music, bouzoukis have not been around in Greece all that long. As recently as 1920, they were relatively unknown, used exclusively in Rembetiko music - a sort of urban blues in mainland Greece. They belong to a tradition of long neck lute instruments bearing various names such as Saz, Tanbur and Bouzouk. In fact the name "Bouzouki" derives from "Bozuk" which means "broken", referring to the alteration of the tuning of this instrument from the Anatolian/ Central Asian originated Saz or [[Baglamas|Baglama]] in Turkish.

Following the 1919-1922 war in [[Asia Minor]] and the subsequent exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, the ethnic Greeks fled to Greece. The refugees brought with them the music known as [[Smyrneika]], which made use of the arabic lute (al ud or 'outi' as the Greeks called it). Soon the outi was replaced by the bouzouki and the Smyrneika style fused into the [[Rembetika]].

The early bouzoukis were ''Trichordo'', with three courses (six strings in three pairs) and were generally tuned to D3/D4 A3 D4. This tuning fits in well with the music of the Middle East, as an open chord is neither major nor minor, allowing great flexibility with the melody. Trichordo bouzoukis are still being made, and are very popular with aficionados of [[Rembetika]].

After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from Piraeus, who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris|Vamvakaris]], Papaiouannou, etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop. Another famous manufacturer and artist is named Theophilos, the only important bouzouki maker left in Greece. He makes 10 kinds of bouzouki, lute, santouri, outi, kanonaki, etc. .

==External links==
*http://www.rebetiko.org/
*http://www.btinternet.com/~christopher.blackmore/rebetiko/bouzouki.html

[[Category:String instruments]]

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 [[Image:Bouzouki-tuning.png|frame|The strings of a trichordo bouzouki are tuned like this... ]]The early bouzoukis were ''Trichordo'', with three courses (six strings in three pairs) and were generally tuned to D3/D4 A3 D4. This tuning fits in well with the music of the Middle East, as an open chord is neither major nor minor, allowing great flexibility with the melody. Trichordo bouzoukis are still being made, and are very popular with aficionados of [[Rembetika]].
-After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from [[Piraeus]], who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris|Vamvakaris]], [[Yiannis Papaioannou (rebetika)|Papaiouannou]], etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop.
+After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from [[Piraeus]], who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris|Vamvakaris]], [[Yiannis Papaioannou (rebetika)|Papaioannou]], etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop.
 ==External links==

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 [[Image:Bouzouki-tuning.png|frame|The strings of a trichordo bouzouki are tuned like this... ]]The early bouzoukis were ''Trichordo'', with three courses (six strings in three pairs) and were generally tuned to D3/D4 A3 D4. This tuning fits in well with the music of the Middle East, as an open chord is neither major nor minor, allowing great flexibility with the melody. Trichordo bouzoukis are still being made, and are very popular with aficionados of [[Rembetika]].
-After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from Piraeus, who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris|Vamvakaris]], Papaiouannou, etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop.
+After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from [[Piraeus]], who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris|Vamvakaris]], [[Yiannis Papaioannou (rebetika)|Papaiouannou]], etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop.
 ==External links==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Bouzouki.jpg|thumb|120px|Greek (tetrachordo) Bouzouki]]
-The '''bouzouki''' ([[greek language|gr.]]  το μπουζούκι; pl. τα μπουζούκια) (plural sometimes transliterated as '''bouzoukia''') is the mainstay of modern [[Greek music]], and is also found in [[Irish music]]. It is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a very long neck. The bouzouki is a member of the 'long neck [[lute]]' family and is similar to an oversized [[mandolin]]. The front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a [[plectrum]] and has a sharp metallic sound.
+The '''bouzouki''' ([[greek language|gr.]]  το μπουζούκι; pl. τα μπουζούκια) (plural sometimes transliterated as '''bouzoukia''') is the mainstay of modern [[Greek music]], and is also found in Irish music. It is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a very long neck. The bouzouki is a member of the 'long neck [[lute]]' family and is similar to an oversized [[mandolin]]. The front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound.
 The best bouzouki is made of mulberry wood, which has a red hue. The bouzouki is called by other names in various parts of Greece: tsiouri, kivouri, bouzouri. In the days of rembetes, bouzouki consisted of the body (skafos) with its top, and the tachera. The tachera is divided into berdedes, and at the upper side are the striftaria with the kordatoura or telia.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:41, August 13, 2005
Line 25:		Line 25:

	After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from Piraeus, who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris\|Vamvakaris]], Papaiouannou, etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop. Another famous manufacturer and artist is named Theophilos, the only important bouzouki maker left in Greece. He makes 10 kinds of bouzouki, lute, santouri, outi, kanonaki, etc. .		After the [[Second World War]], ''Tetrachordo'' (four-course) bouzoukis started to appear. It is not known who first added the fourth course. Possibly Stefanakis or Anastasios Stathopoulos. The tetrachordo was made popular by [[Manolis Chiotis]], who was known for his virtuosity), tuned C-A-F-C. This measures 0.70-100cm in length. One of the most famous bouzouki manufacturers was Joseph from Piraeus, who built them for [[Markos Vamvakaris\|Vamvakaris]], Papaiouannou, etc. According to Vamvakaris, Joseph was an assistant in the shop of [[Konstantis Delis]], from [[Syros]], who was also a famous bouzouki maker. When Delis died, Joseph took over the shop. Another famous manufacturer and artist is named Theophilos, the only important bouzouki maker left in Greece. He makes 10 kinds of bouzouki, lute, santouri, outi, kanonaki, etc. .
		+
		+	==Bouzoukis in Irish Music==
		+	The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_bouzouki Irish bouzoukis] were introduced into Irish Traditional Music in the 1970s and are now an important part of the Irish trad scene.

	==External links==		==External links==

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 The best bouzouki is made of mulberry wood, which has a red hue. The bouzouki is called by other names in various parts of Greece: tsiouri, kivouri, bouzouri. In the days of rembetes, bouzouki consisted of the body (skafos) with its top, and the tachera. The tachera is divided into berdedes, and at the upper side are the striftaria with the kordatoura or telia.
-There are three main types of bouzouki:
+There are two main types of bouzouki used in Greek music:
 * ''Trichordo'' having three pairs of strings (courses).
 * ''Tetrachordo'' having four pairs of strings.
-* ''Irish''.
 ==The tetrachordo bouzouki==
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Following the 1919-1922 war in [[Asia Minor]] and the subsequent exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, the ethnic Greeks fled to Greece. The refugees brought with them the music known as [[Smyrneika]], which made use of the arabic lute (al ud or 'outi' as the Greeks called it).  Soon the outi was replaced by the bouzouki and the Smyrneika style fused into the [[Rembetika]].
-The early bouzoukis were ''Trichordo'', with three courses (six strings in three pairs) and were generally tuned to D3/D4 A3 D4. This tuning fits in well with the music of the Middle East, as an open chord is neither major nor minor, allowing great flexibility with the melody. Trichordo bouzoukis are still being made, and are very popular with aficionados of [[Rembetika]].
+[[Image:Bouzouki-tuning.png|frame|The strings of a trichordo bouzouki are tuned like this... ]]The early bouzoukis were ''Trichordo'', with three courses (six strings in three pairs) and were generally tuned to D3/D4 A3 D4. This tuning fits in well with the music of the Middle East, as an open chord is neither major nor minor, allowing great flexibility with the melody. Trichordo bouzoukis are still being made, and are very popular with aficionados of [[Rembetika]].
 ==External links==
 *http://www.rebetiko.org/
-*http://www.btinternet.com/~christopher.blackmore/rebetiko/bouzouki.html
 [[Category:String instruments]]