The Bagpipe Society

"The Journey of Askavlos" - an ethnomusicological docuemntary

Photo: Markus Haaser, 2011 Persons from left to right: Elias Krassas (tsampouna), Ioulianos Kottakis(tsampouna),
Vassilis Psaras(ntoumpaki), Giannis Manios(tsampouna)

What is this film about? Tell us a few words about it.

This film is about an ancient instrument, called the Askavlos. This comes from the Greek words askos + avlos and means bag + pipe. And about how it is being revived today by a community that is trying to preserve it and pass it on to future generations. Along with this community there are young musicians who are not only trying to revive it but are incorporating this instrument into the contemporary music scene in Greece and worldwide. To me this is the Journey of an instrument that comes from the distant past and passes on and hopefully will be incorporated into the world of traditional and contemporary music for a long time to come.

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