Apparently the start
of another series from Naxos – Greek
Classics – there is a double attraction
here: the instrument and the origins
of the music. But if you glanced casually
at the information above and thought
that you’d never heard anything by these
composers, you might well be wrong since
Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hadjidakis
wrote the music for the films Zorba
the Greek and Never on Sunday
respectively. Theodorakis is also
well-known politically for opposing
the military regime of the late 1960s
and early 1970s. He was initially locked
up and tortured, and then like Hadjidakis
went into exile. Both returned to their
homeland and in the 1990s Theodorakis
became a minister in the Greek government.
Theodorakis was born
on the island of Chios but his Concertino
derives inspiration from the traditional
music of Crete. Originally conceived
as a sonatina for violin and piano in
1952, it has only very recently been
arranged for alto saxophone and orchestra
by Yannis Samprovalakis. Like all the
other works on the disc, this is its
first recording. In three movements,
it is attractive with a particularly
winsome finale which alternately makes
great demands on the fingers of the
soloists and then relaxes into gorgeous
lyricism. The soulful adagio which follows
dates from 1993 and is for soprano saxophone
with only strings and percussion as
accompaniment.
The next Concertino
has also been arranged recently by Samprovalakis.
As a young man the composer Skalkottas
went to Berlin to study with Schoenberg.
He returned to Athens and earned his
living as a back desk violinist whilst
composing extensively both tonal and
atonal music in which there was no interest
all. He died of a strangulated hernia
on the day his second son was born.
Posthumous recognition of his music
seems to be gaining momentum. The work
played here was written in 1939 for
oboe and piano and has been the subject
of other arrangements. Also structured
in three movements, this tonal work
has greater depths than anything else
on the disc. The deeply searching slow
movement, which also includes a solo
violin part, is notable.
The Concerto Piccolo
by Antoniou is played on the alto saxophone
and was written in 2000 for the present
performer. The composer has been a significant
figure on the US musical scene since
the 1970s and that is detectable in
this music although Greek rhythms are
also present. The three-movement structure
is episodic and the percussion are prominent
in the dances of the second movement.
The Phrygian Litany
by Alexiadis is again dedicated to saxophonist
Theodore Kerkezos. This is an extended
song based on traditional music from
Asia Minor. The inspiration for the
Rhapsody of Pontos also comes
from Asia Minor – this area is now part
of Turkey and has a complex history.
Some members of the family of the composer
Tenidis came from the area. He initially
trained as a lawyer before concentrating
on music and becoming a conductor. The
work dates from 1997 and often sounds
quite oriental. The final piece – Mr
Knoll – is taken from Gioconda’s
Smile a famous collection of instrumental
songs. With an additional unaccredited
bouzouki solo, this concludes the disc
on an impassioned note.
Theodore Kerkezos is
a most impressive player who is strongly
associated with much of this music.
The supporting cast and engineers have
also done a fine job and there are good
notes. Whether your motivation is to
hear music for the saxophone or from
Greece, this disc is an unmissable bargain.
Patrick C Waller
Theodore Kerkezos (saxophones) 
