Xanthoula Dakovanou - Rizituals (Inspired from cretan vocal traditions of Rizitika) (2024)

RIZITUALS is inspired by cretan vocal traditions, particularly by the cretan songs of Rizitika, creating an extatic, female musical ceremony.

Rizitiko is an ancient vocal tradition of Western Crete, which begins in the byzantine era. A jewel of the greek immaterial cultural patrimony, this tradition is mainly unknown to the rest of the world up to date. Traditionally, it is sung by men, a cappella.

In this album we listen to rizitika songs about women in their different traditional roles : mother, daughter, sister, wife, mistress – but also an active search of the modern woman who seeks for her own identity, combining elements of the tradition with urban modernity, creating new patterns into the mondialization world that surrounds her.

The dramaturgy of the album captures this search, using traditional Rizitika melodies which are combined with modern orchestrations, incorporating female polyphonies with byzantine and medieval elements, traditional and western instruments but also experimenal elements and improvisations.
Reknown greek musicians participate, starting with the beautiful cretan voice of the singer Eugenia Toli Damavoliti, who sings with Xanthoula. Dimitris Sideris participates in the creative orchestrations and plays skillfully the cretan lute and e-bow, in a traditional but also experimental style. The talented violoncellist Sophia Efkleidou interprets the oriental traditions with a unique style and improvises on her instrument. Giorgos Zacharioudakis plays multiple wind instruments and Solis Barki colours the ensemble with his percussive soundscapes.
Xanthoula Dakovanou assures the conception, artistic direction and orchestrations of the project and sings, as well.

Xanthoula Dakovanou (voice)
Eugenia Toli Damavoliti (voice)
Dimitris Sideris (luth)
Sophia Efkleidou (cello)
Giorgos Zacharioudakis (flutes)
Solis Barki (percussion)

Guest musicians :
Argiro Reppa (voice)
Christina Kouki (santouri)
Anemi vocal ensemble

Tracklist:
1-1 Xanthoula Dakovanou - Ilie mou [3:53]
1-2 Xanthoula Dakovanou;Eugenia Toli Damavoliti - Pervoli [6:32]
1-3 Xanthoula Dakovanou - Avgerinos [7:39]
1-4 Xanthoula Dakovanou;Eugenia Toli Damavoliti - Mana lougie me [4:09]
1-5 Xanthoula Dakovanou;Eugenia Toli Damavoliti - Kori lygeri [7:21]
1-6 Xanthoula Dakovanou;Eugenia Toli Damavoliti - Syrto at dawn [4:41]
1-7 Xanthoula Dakovanou - Mia kori roda [10:49]
1-8 Xanthoula Dakovanou - Aitos perdiki [1:55]
1-9 Xanthoula Dakovanou;Eugenia Toli Damavoliti - Rizituals sousta [8:33]