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Panos Ioannidis and the Laterna Barrel Piano
By Philip Jamison

Some MMD-ers commented on the Tomasso barrel piano video I posted the
other day.  Here is another video with some scenes of a Laterna maker.

The laterna is a traditional Greek/Turkish barrel piano played on the
street for coins.  It's a cultural icon there like the pierement is in
Holland.  Panos Ioannidis makes laternas today.  Here is Part 5 of a
documentary he was involved with about this instrument.  Though not in
English, it's worth a look, particularly this part which shows Panos
pinning a barrel and playing one of his laternas.

  https://youtu.be/_8GZpDGOmpA 
  Panos Ioannidis' laterna site: http://laterna.info/site/english/ 
  [ video alternate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yweXsRmzIbU 

I have two laternas, and they're a lot of fun to play, though I wouldn't
want to carry one on my back like they usually were transported.  The
music is not well-known in the West, but is very "danceable".  It's
usually accompanied with a large tambourine called a defi.

Finally, my favorite feature film with a laterna was "Never on a
Sunday" starring Melina Mercouri.  One of my laternas has this tune on
its barrel.  Here is the trailer.  Can you spot the laternas?

  https://youtu.be/wQht_oEDKTc 

Phil Jamison

 [ See also http://www.mmdigest.com/archives/KWIC/L/laterna.html 
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/archives/Digests/201211/2012.11.09.02.html 
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/archives/Digests/200212/2002.12.23.01.html 
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Sun 24 Jul 2016, 23:04:21 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Barrel, Ioannidis, Laterna, Panos, Piano
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