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Rebetika: Songs of Greece (1986)

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'Mother send the doctors away'

Clip description

'Mother send the doctors away’ is a track from Apodimi Compania’s album 'Rebetika: Songs of Greece’ (1986). It is a Rebetika song from the 1940s, played in a style typical of the genre, with guitar, tzouras and baglama backing the voice.

Curator’s notes

'Mother Send the Doctors Away’ is a song by blind guitarist Steliou Hrisinis (1916–70), a well-known Rembete songwriter and performer who played from the 1930s to the 1950s. The song is one of many about tuberculosis, which was common in Greece in the early years of last century. The singer is telling his mother to send the doctors away, as they can’t help, and let him die in peace.

Apodimi Compania use guitar as the rhythmic basis of the song with baglama, a small half-size bouzouki, providing a rhythmic counterpoint. The melody behind the voice – and filling-in between verses – is played on a tzouras, a smaller bouzouki-style instrument. Worry beads tapped on the side of a glass are used as percussion.

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rebetika1_bb.mp3

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. All rights are reserved.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may save, copy, print, distribute or download materials for your own personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes. Commercial exploitation of materials on this website is prohibited.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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