Greek Song No5 – Agrimia Ki Agrimakia Mou https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiNrWFUKdho

The music of Crete (Greek: Κρητική μουσική), also called kritika (Greek: κρητικά), refers to traditional forms of Greek folk music prevalent on the island of Crete in Greece.

Cretan music is the eldest music in Greece and generally, in Europe. Since ancient times, music held a special place in Crete and this is proved by the archaeological excavations, the ancient texts and paintings that are preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Most paintings represent the lyre player playing in the middle and the dancers dancing around in circle. There are also images of flutes, conches, trumpets and the ancient lyre.

Lyra is the basic instrument of Cretan music. It is in three types: “Lyraki” (small lyre), the common lyre and “Vrontolyra”. They have three metallic chords, which, in the past were made of intestine. They differ in size, the sound they produce and their use.

Cretan traditional music includes instrumental music (generally also involving singing), a capella songs known as the rizitika, "Erotokritos," Cretan urban songs (tabachaniotika), as well as other miscellaneous songs and folk genres (lullabies, ritual laments, etc.).

“Rizitika” is a category of Cretan songs, named from the Greek word “riza” which means “root”. Therefore these songs date back many centuries ago in Cretan music. Cretans don’t dance these particular songs. The singer usually sings them and the chorus repeats the lyrics.

One of the most famous Rizitika song is “ Agrimia Ki Agrimakia Mou” (Ferals, my little ferals) and especially its version by the mst famous Cretan singers of all time Nikos Xyloyris. It’s a traditional song (rizitiko) with music by the Greek Composer Giannis Markopoulos originating from the mountains of the Prefecture of Chania, Crete.

Greek Lyrics English Lyrics «Ἀγρίμια κι΄ἀγριμάκια μου «Ferals, my little ferals ΄λάφια μου ΄μερωμένα my tamed deers πεστέ μου ποῦ 'ν οἱ τόποι σας tell me, where are your lands καὶ ποῦ 'ν τὰ γονικά σας; and where are your ancestral estates? - Γκρεμνὰ 'ν ἐμᾷς οἱ τόποι μας - Cliffs are our lands λέσκες τὰ χειμαδιά μας gorges are our shelters τὰ σπηλιαράκια του βουνού the little caves of the mountains είναι τὰ γονικά μας.» are our ancestral estates.»