Music-making in the social world of a Cretan town (Heraklion 1900–1960): a contribution to the study of non-commercialrebetiko

Abstract

AbstractDrawing on a range of biographical, historical, ethnographical and musicological sources, this article presents the social and historical factors contributing to the evolution in the early 20th century of a local variant ofrebetikoaround theLakkosbrothel district in Heraklion, the largest city in Crete. It explores the influence of a wider multicultural context on local music-making and reveals the relationship between the social life and economy of theLakkosarea and its musical and stylistic sensibilities. Emphasis is also placed on the musical culture of local subcultural space, particularly with respect to the functions of musical practices in everyday life and the poetics of improvised songs. Investigation of the social world inLakkossuggests that the forerunners ofrebetikocan be explored as a hybrid music scene associated with cross-cultural interaction between different social and ethnic groups and musical traditions. The societal and aesthetic codes of this scene, with its low life themes, coarse melodies and allegedly alien influences were seen by local elites as compromising the moral values of respectable society and subverting efforts to cultivate a national identity.