Crete was plunged into grief following news of the death of Giannis Xylouris, beloved by all as Psarogiannis, a man who was not merely a great musician, but a living piece of the soul and tradition of the island. The legendary lute player passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind an irreplaceable void and a musical legacy that will forever accompany the memories, joys and sorrows of Crete. His loss caused deep emotion not only in the artistic world, but in every Cretan who grew up with his lute accompanying celebrations, festivals and life’s moments. Born in Anogia in 1943, Giannis Xylouris belonged to the great and historic Xylouris family, which for four generations has been a pillar of Cretan musical tradition. Brother of Nikos Xylouris and Antonis Xylouris (Psarantonis), he carried from childhood both the weight and the gift of a family that learned to speak through notes, mantinades and strings. From very early on, it was clear that music was not simply art for him, but a way of existence.
Psarogiannis (Giannis Xylouris): From child prodigy to lute virtuoso
His first contact with music came at just five years old, in 1948, when he held the mandolin in his hands. Soon followed the lute and lyra, instruments with which he would bond deeply and inseparably. Still a primary school student, young Giannis “conversed” with Crete’s traditional instruments in a secret language that only those with unquenchable passion can understand. At twelve, he was already accompanying his brother Nikos on lute, while at just fourteen, in 1957, he participated in his first recording work.His development was rapid. At seventeen, in 1960, he was already considered one of Crete’s top lute players, with the island’s most important lyra players seeking collaboration with him. His lute would accompany the most famous and important representatives of Cretan music, bringing rhythm, depth and soul to countless recordings and live performances.
A creator rooted in tradition with eyes on the future
Giannis Xylouris never limited himself to the role of virtuoso. Although the lute and mandolin were the instruments he loved from childhood, he expanded his musical horizons to include lyra, singing and composition. Gifted with rare imagination and flawless technique, he began creating contemporary Cretan songs, compositions that stood out for their quality and could stand proudly alongside the work of established and studied composers. Standing firmly in tradition while simultaneously utilizing elements of art music, he managed to form a personal artistic proposition with solid foundations. His presence was intense and lasting, with concerts and performances both in Greece and abroad. Throughout his long career, he collaborated with top artists including his brothers Nikos and Antonis, renowned musicians like Kostas Moundakis and Vasilis Skoulas, while his work extended to collaborations with musical groups from Epirus, the Aegean and Asia Minor, as well as with important Greek composers. Giannis Xylouris was the man who mastered the lute, leaving behind dozens of recordings of unmatched technical and aesthetic quality, bearing the seal of perfection. Today, Crete bids farewell to an authentic expression of its soul, a musician who made the lute into voice, memory and identity of an entire place. If you wish, I can make it even more literary or more strictly journalistic.
@parapolitika Η Κρήτη βυθίστηκε στη θλίψη μετά την είδηση του θανάτου του Γιάννη Ξυλούρη, του αγαπημένου σε όλους Ψαρογιάννη, ενός ανθρώπου που δεν υπήρξε απλώς σπουδαίος μουσικός, αλλά ζωντανό κομμάτι της ψυχής και της παράδοσης του νησιού. Ο θρυλικός λαουτιέρης έφυγε από τη ζωή σε ηλικία 83 ετών, αφήνοντας πίσω του ένα δυσαναπλήρωτο κενό και μια μουσική παρακαταθήκη που θα συνοδεύει για πάντα τις μνήμες, τις χαρές και τους καημούς της Κρήτης. Η απώλειά του προκάλεσε βαθιά συγκίνηση όχι μόνο στον καλλιτεχνικό κόσμο, αλλά σε κάθε Κρητικό που μεγάλωσε με το λαούτο του να ντύνει γλέντια, πανηγύρια και στιγμές ζωής. Γεννημένος στα Ανώγεια το 1943, ο Γιάννης Ξυλούρης ανήκε στη μεγάλη και ιστορική οικογένεια των Ξυλούρηδων, που εδώ και τέσσερις γενιές αποτελεί πυλώνα της κρητικής μουσικής παράδοσης. Αδερφός του Νίκου Ξυλούρη και του Αντώνη Ξυλούρη (Ψαραντώνη), κουβαλούσε από μικρός το βάρος αλλά και το χάρισμα μιας οικογένειας που έμαθε να μιλά με νότες, μαντινάδες και δοξάρια. Από πολύ νωρίς φάνηκε πως η μουσική δεν ήταν για εκείνον απλώς τέχνη, αλλά τρόπος ύπαρξης. #parapolitikagr #psarogiannis #crete #creta #laouto ♬ πρωτότυπος ήχος – Parapolitika.gr
