The Art of Improvisation in the Greek Musical Heritage (original) (raw)

This paper studies the the different improvisational genres in the Hellenic musical heritage. Based on Post-Byzantine musical manuscripts, the discography of 78 rpm, contemporary sources and the musical experience of the author, it examines the types of improvisations in the Greek musical tradition, both as autonomous form and as part incorporated in a song or instrumental piece. By exploring the rules which set the limits within which the musicians moves, the author presents a classification and analysis of the structures, the morphologies, the instruments, the origins and the practices of different genres.