Sotirios (Sam) Chianis (b. 1926)

Ethnomusicologist and musician Sotirios (Sam) Chianis is one of the foremost authorities on Greek folk music as well as an excellent performer on the santouri, the Greek version of thecimbalom.Chianis studied cimbalom with Spyros Stamos, and later played santouri on several recordings. Throughout his life, Chianis often has conducted field recording expeditions throughout Greece.

Survival of Greek Folk Music in New York 1

Long America’s premier port and urban center, New York City has always been a fulcrum of musical expression. In “Survival of Greek Folk Music in New York,” esteemed ethnomusicologist and musician Sotirios (Sam) Chianis sets the stage by ably delineating the many forms of Greek regional music from the islands and the mainland. He then traces the long history of music, musicians, venues, and instrument makers in New York. Among his topics are the men’s coffee houses, local Greek record companies and record producers, Greek newspapers, the Greek Musicians’ Union, musical instrument makers, and the rise of bouzouki-based music.