TΗΕ “CLASSIC” CHARACTER OF THE GREEK SANTUR

Abstract

The santur has been associated with tradition and therefore with the traditional and popular repertoire. However, it has been used in classical works by Greek and foreign composers, choosing it as a soloist or the main instrument of the classical orchestra. The aim of this paper is to see the "classical" character of a traditional instrument through the study of the "concertino for sanduri and orchestra" by the Greek musician Dimitris Dragatakis. fundamental knowledge of sandouri in matters of area, technical and structural requirements.. On the other hand, we compared through the recording of the specific musical work, the performance of the musical score by the santur player. The main research questions focus on how a traditional instrument such as the santouri is incorporated into classical music forms and how it is rendered by both the musician and the composer.As a methodology, the analysis of the musical score was chosen, focusing on the part of santur and we used the observation of the performance of the musical text by the sandour player.As a tool of the observer, the recording of the musical work was used, which was from the personal archive of the composer.At the same time, through bibliographic references, the musical influences of both the composer and the musician chosen to play as a soloist in the musical project were studied.The results showed that the Greek composer Dimitris Dragatakis, who although his education is based on the principles of classical music, chose the santur and the santouri player Tasos Diakogiorgis, who in addition his influences of traditional music,he had also studied advanced music theories and had experiences with other classical Greek composers. The composer in general seems to have received the technical capabilities of the instrument but the performance of the musical score seems not to be faithfully performed by the santur player.This indicates that a classical music composer who chooses to include a traditional instrument as a solo instrument in the orchestra has a leniency the solist player in modifying some musical notes not only because of the technical difficulties that arise but also because of a better interpretation of the musician.