Theodoros Kekes

Biographical Note

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Theodoros Kekes (1924-2007) was born into a family of musicians in Kiani, a small village in Thrace. His father initiated him into the Thracian gaida when he was seven years old. At the age of sixteen he acquired his first gaida and began to play in the village square every Sunday and to be asked to play at weddings and festivals.

In 1961 he moved to Athens and stopped playing full-time. It was Domna Samiou who persuaded him to take up traditional music again.

He has presented the musical tradition of Thrace on the radio and has also played on television and in concerts both at home and abroad.

Songs

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Thrace Acritic Song, Wedding Song
A Young and Gallant Soldier
Ένας άγουρος κι ένας καλός στρατιώτης A young and gallant soldier Sought a citadel, a citadel. He sought a citadel, a village to stop at. He found none, no citade...
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Thrace Acritic Song
Digenes Is Dying (The Death of Digenis)
Ο Διγενής ψυχομαχάει Digenes, Digenes is giving up the ghost, my eyes, Digenes is dying my eyes are black, Digenes is dying. All the lords on l...
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Thrace Table Song | Instrumental
Gaida Solo
Εσείς βουνά, ψηλά βουνά
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Thrace Instrumental
Paidoushka
Παϊντούσκα
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Thrace Evros, Kyani Carnival Song
What Am I, Poor Wretch, to Do
Τι να κάνω ο έρημος What am I, poor wretch, to do with the wife I’ve got? In Jan’ry month and Feb’ry too she leads me off to harvest. I reaped ...
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Thrace Evros, Kyani Lampoon
When I Went down to the Butchers
When I went down, mistress mine, to the butcher’s to buy meat, he gave me, mistress mine, a bone and a donkey head to eat....

Albums

Concerts

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1971-1973 Athens, Clubs Rodeo, Kyttaro and Rizes
The First Concerts
In 1971, in the midst of the military Junta period in Greece,...