The Journey of Askavlos (88’), Yorgos Arvanitis, Greece
The Journey of Askaylos is a wonderful musical journey that follows the ancient Greek bagpipe, from the stone-built villages, where the roots of the instrument are found, to the concrete jungles of modern cities. This journey brings together authentic practitioners of an ancient tradition, as well as young musicians who are discovering it in its moment of decline. Together, they bring it into the present, revive it and keep it alive.
The revival brings back something almost lost, the customs and traditions of a people of another era and an oral tradition that was once a way of life. The archaic bagpipe is now being assimilated by the contemporary music scene and merged with modern sounds, beyond the realm of traditional festivals, thus acquiring a new audience and enjoying a wide appeal throughout Greece and the world.