Editorial

98
A major programme for the Composition of
Cypriot Songs was successfully carried out
within the framework of the innovations
introduced by the Ministry of Education and
Culture to develop music education in secondary
schools. The Inspector for Music
in secondary schools, Mrs Maro Skordi,
inspired, supervised and coordinated this
important programme.
Workshops on the composition of Cypriot
music were held in which talented pupils
from the lyceums of Larnaca and Ammochostos
worked hard and enthusiastically
in their free time under the well-known Cypriot
composer Michalis Christodoulides. They
created their own Cypriot songs with verses
which they themselves chose and which
they presented at a final concert.
The Concept
The organiser, Maro Skordi, explains the
rationale behind the whole endeavour. "With
Cypriot Song Composition
our accession to the European Union the
need to preserve our own musical heritage
has become more pressing. We were concerned
that pupils at our schools did not have
sufficient contact with Cypriot music or the
Cypriot vernacular in poetry. I wanted, therefore,
to encourage the pupils in the belief
that through these workshops they would
have a good start to getting acquainted with
Cypriot music, which encompasses a priceless
treasure."
The Workshops
Mrs Skordi explained that Michalis Christodoulides,
who uses ancient Greek music in his works
as well as elements of Cypriot music, which
he knows well, was brought over from Athens.
He has written a series of very important traditional
and “akritic” Cypriot songs. Michalis
Christodoulides undertook the workshops,
encouraging the pupils to write as they feel,
using whatever sounds they know and can
Organiser of the programme
Maro Skordi
and composer Michalis
Christodoulides during
the workshop.