Greece’s musical heritage stretches from Byzantine and regional folk traditions to rebetiko, modern popular song, and internationally recognized composers and singers. These examples feature Mikis Theodorakis and Nana Mouskouri, two of the country’s most enduring musical figures.
The music of Greece is as diverse and celebrated as its history. Greek music separates into two parts: Greek traditional music and Byzantine music, with more eastern sounds. These compositions have existed for millennia: they originated in the Byzantine period and Greek antiquity, where there is a continuous development which appears in the language, the rhythm, the structure and the melody. Greek music has many similarities with the music of Cyprus, their modern popular music scenes remaining well-integrated with one another. Music is a significant aspect of Hellenic culture, both within Greece and in the diaspora.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia’s “Music of Greece” article
Mikis Theodorakis’s score for “Zorba the Greek” became one of the world’s most recognizable introductions to modern Greek music.
Nana Mouskouri represents the international reach of Greek popular song and vocal performance.