Greek Rhapsody: Instrumental Music from Greece 1905-1956

A sweeping panorama of Greek instrumental music, spanning the golden era of 78 rpm recordings.

Greek Rhapsody presents 42 instrumental tracks recorded between 1905 and 1956, offering the most comprehensive survey yet of Greek music’s instrumental traditions. Remastered from 78 rpm discs, many sourced from the only known surviving copies, this collection unveils rare performances that have never been reissued until now, alongside classics heard in vastly improved sound quality.

The anthology highlights legendary figures such as Markos Vamvakaris, the “patriarch of rebetiko,” Spyros Peristeris, a prolific composer and bouzouki virtuoso, and Alexis Zoumbas, the violinist whose haunting Epirus style remains unmatched. Together with dozens of lesser-known masters, they reveal the depth and vitality of Greek instrumental traditions, from rebetiko to folk dances, laterna solos to mandolin ensembles.

What’s Included

• 42 audio tracks recorded 1905–1956
• newly remastered from rare 78 rpm discs
• View the complete tracklist here: [Insert hosted PDF link]4
• 152-page illustrated book (PDF) featuring:
• Essays on early Greek recorded music
• Notes on instruments and performance styles
• Biographical sketches of musicians
• Glossary and rare archival photographs

Compiler

Tony Klein, a British musician, researcher, and writer based in Sweden, has studied and performed Greek music for more than 40 years. He collaborated with veteran musicians such as Stelios Keromitis and co-produced the acclaimed anthology Mortika – Rare Vintage Recordings from a Greek Underworld.

Praise & Reviews

“Perhaps the best of all rebetika anthologies. Superbly remastered – and therefore sonically stunning. Producer Tony Klein has written a wonderfully succinct history of the genre, its meanings, its instruments and its raison d’être.”

— Paul Vernon, fRoots

“…superb quality of the sound …the whole production is a very high-quality job… The notes, by Tony Klein, are always interesting.”

— Rod Stradling, Musical Traditions

“…this is without doubt a reference work, which can function as both an excellent introduction to rebetika and as a necessary complement to existing recordings. An anthology to recommend to anyone.”

— Haris Sarris, HiTech