BELLS & WINTER FESTIVALS OF GREEK MACEDONIA

During Christmas and New Year's weeks of 2000-2001, Steven Feld traveled in Greece with Dick Blau and Angeliki and Charles Keil to record a CD for their book Bright Balkan Morning: Romani Lives and the Power of Music in Greek Macedonia. Feld's CD soundscape is accompanied by a portfolio of photographs by Blau. Together they evoke the world of Romani families in the ancient crossroads town of Iraklia (Jumaya), moving through the marketplace, the cafes and homes of the Roma neighborhood, the town church, and several New Year's parties. Throughout the trip Feld was taken by the presence of bells in the countryside, in local villages, and in winter festivals. This CD features these keynote sounds of animal bells, town and church bells, and belled festival performers interacting with Romani instrumental trios, as well as with bagpipes (gaida) and frame drums (defi).

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Belled Goats of Assiros Belled goats in the outskirts of Assiros 04:25

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Belled Sheep of Dorkas Belled sheep in Dorkas 04:14

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New Year at Sohos Zissis Hindzos, Aristidis Dramalis, and Yiannis Dramalis 10:44

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Arapides Festival at Nikisiani vendors, boys and men at the Arapides Festival 07:37

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Taverna Party at Nikisiani Ioannis Milkas, Grigoris Goras, and Antonis Halatsis 15:15

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Babouyera Festival at Kali Vrissi The Madziris trio - Kostas, Ilias, and Elias Dimanos 09:48


Festival Parade at Kali Vrissi Bagpipers withs boys and men with costumes of bells