Dance of the Akritai - Epic Byzantine Music

Music by Farya Faraji. Please note that this isn't reconstructed Byzantine music; it's modern Greek music with a Byzantine theme (the theme in this case being the Anatolic Theme, please laugh it's a good pun). I was inspired to write an instrumental piece about the Akritai, the border guards of the Byzantine Empire from the 9th to 11th centuries who defended the empire's borders in Anatolia against the enemy states of the Middle-East. With this one, I was more interested in providing a sense of realistic atmosphere and immersion than just music--I wanted to evoke some idea of the Akritai dancing together in their barracks, drinking and feasting after a hard day of battle on the soil of Anatolia.

The Akritai formed the inspiration behind the Akritic songs--the oldest preserved Greek folk songs that revolve around the exploits of the empire's border guards, and foremost among these poems is the Diagenes Akritas, a cycle of epic poems about a half-Greek half-Saracen warrior of the Akritai, a figure which I plan to make a song about in the near future. Given that the Akritic songs have a strong presence in the folk music of Pontic Greeks, I decided to base much of this song's instrumentation around the Black Sea Kemenche, which is the Pontic Greek descendant of the Byzantine lyre; it's a very small fiddle instrument that is the central to the music of Pontic Greeks, and is used as the basis of group dances in circles within the Pontic community. The Black Sea Kemenche/Pontic Lyre might be the most appropriate and accurate instrumentation choice, as its ancestor, the Byzantine lyre, was used as early as the 9th century in the Byzantine Empire, and it's very plausible that the Akritai themselves might have danced to an ancestor of this instrument in their day and age.

[faryafaraji]

The Akritai formed the inspiration behind the Akritic songs--the oldest preserved Greek folk songs that revolve around the exploits of the empire's border guards, and foremost among these poems is the Diagenes Akritas, a cycle of epic poems about a half-Greek half-Saracen warrior of the Akritai, a figure which I plan to make a song about in the near future. Given that the Akritic songs have a strong presence in the folk music of Pontic Greeks, I decided to base much of this song's instrumentation around the Black Sea Kemenche, which is the Pontic Greek descendant of the Byzantine lyre; it's a very small fiddle instrument that is the central to the music of Pontic Greeks, and is used as the basis of group dances in circles within the Pontic community. The Black Sea Kemenche/Pontic Lyre might be the most appropriate and accurate instrumentation choice, as its ancestor, the Byzantine lyre, was used as early as the 9th century in the Byzantine Empire, and it's very plausible that the Akritai themselves might have danced to an ancestor of this instrument in their day and age.

[pallasathena]

Greek Pontic dances are way older than most people think
*Homer refers to the Pyrrichios and describes how Achilles danced it around the burning funeral of Patroclus*

[GTakos]

FANTASTIC. It sounds mainly Pontian Greek/Anatolian (Is that pontic lyra?) . Rum Greeks still sing songs about the akritae border guards just like in Cyprus and Crete, Macedonia and Thrace.

[pablomarcano]

Basil Digenis Akritas, also known only Digenis Akritas (not to be confused with Emperor Basil II), is a hero who appears in an epic poem in literature in the Byzantine era. Written in medieval Greek by an anonymous author from the 12th century. Where the events focus on the experiences of the byzantine akritas.

The hero has the nickname "The Lord born between two races who lives on the border " because he is the son of an Arab emir and the daughter of a Byzantine general. Died when defeated by the personification of death, Thanatos/Charos, during a duel.

[historicaladventurevideos]

Every Byzantine song of yours is a gem.

[balkanmountains]

Beautiful music. Excellent selection of instruments too. Everyone in Greece knows the tale of Ακρίτας Διγενής. Nowdays, many people call the inhabitants of Greece who live near the borders, akritai, as a remnant of the past. You produce such awesome songs man I especially like your Bulgarian, Byzantine and Turkic music.

[ellastrantellenas]

I am partly descended of the Akritai . Thank you for this masterpiece, a real honor.

[mariosathens]

I believe your task on Earth is to compose and mix traditional music. You were born for that.
I hope more people learn about your work and hire you to compose music for Historic movies and documentaries

[Garshasp]

Καλή μέρα, αυτό είναι τέλειο, Καλή δουλειά αδερφέ μου

[HistorywithCy]

Another classic! And that's for explaining what an Akritai was... never knew that fascinating piece of history!

[justinianthegreat]

This makes my morning good, Farya I would love to hear more of your Byzantine music, you make your Basileus proud

[fenderplayer]

Something to ALWAYS This is a song of those who Guarded the borders of the Greek World for over one thousand years!!! LISTEN And Remember and use it to Motivate yourselves!!!!

[soslanroseft]

The Akritas were incredible warriors who left a great legacy in the form of epic poetry thanks for making a song about them.

[danbie]

Your Byzantine pieces are such lively works of music, really feels like my imaginations of the people coming through the speakers of my laptop. Simply delightful. <3

[giorgosprovatas]

Akritas(Ακριτας) in greek means someone who lives on the border, akri(ακρη)means edge in greece hence the akrites live in the edge of the country. These people where used to raids and fighting and were organised in a sort of a militia/terittorial army with the purpose of defending their homes and by extent the borders of the Empire. Digenes was such an akritas, a great warrior who has know reasen to the status of folk legend.

To this day in greece The people who live in the border with turkey are called akrites and they stil form the national guard whose purpose is to aid the army in case of war with turkey. Meanwhile many greeks have taken the name Digenis(pronounced Thegenes) as their nom de guerre(war nickname) most famous grivas digenes who fought for cyprus's union with greece.

[guy]

Despite having no lyrics, I still consider this the best song from you yet. This song has gotten me through so many Elden Ring and Dark Souls bosses. I play your music during the boss fights, it really helps with focus.

[meugen]

Another great song. Greetings from Romania 🇷🇴

[ahmetcemersever]

Χαιρετισμούς από την Τουρκία στους γενναίους γιους της Ελλάδας

[nikostombris]

Purely amazing . A moment of respect to all the Greeks, Armenians and other Akrites who preserved the integrity of the State . They propably didn’t know it but they were defenders of country and faith one of the greatest values a man can have .
Much respect to the Arabs also . Even through they were enemies, they were indeed the most civilized and respectful foe we encountered in history !

[GTakos]

History background (favourite material for Greek literature national exams)

Digenis Akritas (Digenis=Διγενίς= someone of two ancestries) epic, half Greco-Roman, half Arab fighting against the angel of Death (Caliphate) from Cyprus to Syria.

(Heavily influenced from Hercules (favourite moral figure for classicist Christian scholars/Patrologia Graeca - fighting against angel of death from the Greek myth of Admetus and Alcestis)

He was wearing belts from Lahore and was a noble Roman border guard. His horse was pitch black and was peeing blood. He had very fertile (ρούσσα/red soil) lands (depending on the era of the song in Mesopotamia or Anatolia). He had super expensive clothes and accessories and had his own marble κάστρο/castrum.

Cyprus' mountain sierra is called Pentadaktylos(Πενταδάκτυλος) (Five-fingered). The mountain formed by Digenis Akritas' hand while he was fighting against the angel of death in Aleppo.