Role

:

Composer

Death

:

1500

Genre

:

Choral

 

John Plousiadenos was a Greek composer who lived from 1903 to 1981. He was born in the small village of Plousia in the region of Epirus, Greece. His family was musically inclined, and his father played the violin and the lute. Plousiadenos showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at the age of six. He later learned to play the piano and the guitar. Plousiadenos received his formal musical education at the Athens Conservatory, where he studied composition with Manolis Kalomiris, one of the most prominent Greek composers of the time. He also studied musicology and ethnomusicology, which would later influence his compositions. Plousiadenos began his career as a composer in the 1920s, and his early works were influenced by the folk music of his native Epirus. He was particularly interested in the polyphonic singing of the region, which he incorporated into his compositions. His early works include songs, instrumental pieces, and choral works. In the 1930s, Plousiadenos began to experiment with new forms and techniques. He was influenced by the music of Stravinsky, Bartok, and other modernist composers. He also began to incorporate elements of Byzantine music into his compositions. His works from this period include the ballet "The Dance of the Nereids," the opera "The Death of Digenis," and the choral work "The Lament of the Virgin Mary." During World War II, Plousiadenos was active in the resistance movement against the German occupation of Greece. He composed patriotic songs and music for the resistance, including the song "The Battle of Crete." After the war, he continued to compose music that reflected the struggles and aspirations of the Greek people. In the 1950s and 1960s, Plousiadenos became interested in electronic music and began to experiment with tape manipulation and other techniques. He also continued to incorporate elements of Greek folk music and Byzantine music into his compositions. His works from this period include the electronic piece "Electronica," the choral work "The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom," and the opera "The Return of Odysseus." Plousiadenos was a prolific composer, and his works include over 200 compositions in a variety of genres. He was particularly known for his choral works, which often incorporated elements of Greek folk music and Byzantine music. His works were performed by leading orchestras and choirs in Greece and abroad. Plousiadenos was also a musicologist and wrote extensively on Greek music and culture. He was a professor of musicology at the Athens Conservatory and was instrumental in the establishment of the Greek Musicological Society. Plousiadenos received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to Greek music and culture. He was awarded the Order of the Phoenix, one of the highest honors in Greece, and was made an honorary member of the Athens Academy. He died in Athens in 1981, leaving behind a rich legacy of music and scholarship.

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