Oi Grekoi
| "Oi Grekoi" | |
|---|---|
| File:Liston (Mi fovasthe grekoi) Palaia Holy Saturday 2025.webm "Oi Graikoi" from the Philharmonic Society of Corfu on Holy Saturday. | |
| Instrumental | |
| Language | Greek |
| Length | 2:40 |
| Songwriter(s) | N. Angelidis |
| Composer(s) | Unknown (perhaps N. Tzanis Metaxas) |
| Characteristic musical piece in the Corfiot Easter events. | |
Listen to the song Oi Grekoi or Buy it on amazon The March "Oi Grekoi", also known as "Do Not Fear, Greeks" or "Exhortatory Song", is a particularly important and widespread patriotic musical piece that connected its course with the struggles of Hellenism during the 19th century. It is a composed march from the period of Ottoman rule, which acquired nationwide appeal and international recognition.[1]
Historical Origin and Initial Spread
"Do Not Fear, Greeks" is the musical setting of a pro-European revolutionary poem, the lyrics of which were already widespread in the Greek area during the 19th century, before the Union of the Ionian Islands.
Composer: The musician of this specific, popular version of the march officially remains unknown. However, strong tradition holds the composer to be the Cephalonian musician of the Heptanesian School Nikolaos Tzanis Metaxas (1825 – 1907), who was a radical, a student of Dionysios Lavrangas and known for his compositional work for band.[1]
Lyrical Source: Its lyrics appear to be included in the collection of N. Angelidis «Anthology or collection of heroic songs», which was published in Athens in 1864.[1]
Appeal: During the second half of the 19th century, the song acquired nationwide appeal under the title "Exhortatory Song," accompanying many of the significant moments of Greece's adventurous course.
International Recognition: Its fame transcended the borders of Greece. The piece appeared in collections of patriotic songs circulated in foreign countries (such as Denmark and England), as a characteristic Greek war song.[2]
The Connection with Corfu
The march is closely linked to the history of the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, the so-called "Palaia" Philharmonic.
Struggles for the Union: The CFS band played a significant role in promoting national sentiment in the Ionian Islands, during the time of the British protectorate. In 1850, the CFS performed this specific march during the first public Corfiot celebration of the anniversary of March 25th in Corfu. This act underlined the song's importance both for the Greek Revolution and for the struggles for the Union of the Ionian Islands with Greece (1864).[3]
Easter Events: Today, the musical version of the march heard by the Philharmonics of Corfu (CFS, "Mantzaro", "Capodistrias") constitutes an integral element of the Corfiot Easter. It is traditionally played after the First Resurrection (on the morning of Holy Saturday) and the custom of the "Botides", as well as on Easter Sunday.[4]
Recordings
One of the notable recordings of the song took place in 1998 by the Commercial Bank Choir, as part of the bank's discographic release titled «Rigas Feraios–Dionysios Solomos». Many performances of the march, mainly by the Philharmonics of Corfu, are available on the internet.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Newsbomb (2023-04-15). ""Do not fear, Greeks": This is the march played by the philharmonics in Corfu". Newsbomb (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ Rizos, Akis (2025-04-24). "Lyrics-Choral performance & interpretation of the song "Do Not Fear, Greeks"". Corfu Stories (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ ""Do Not Fear, Greeks" by musicians of the Old (Philharmonic) at the windows of the Philharmonic". Corfuland.gr - Ό,τι παίζει στην Κέρκυρα (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ ""The Graikoi": revolutionary march of the 19th century". CorfuHistory. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
INDEX
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