Music Ecology, Music Sociology, Music Locality - the case of Epirus by Mpiliax Mpiliens

This master’s thesis investigates and interprets locally produced music and particular music traditions of the world that have strong aesthetics and characteristic sounds. Through the concepts of music ecology, music sociology, and music locality, it identifies the link of the music with its place of origin, in an attempt to find the tools to understand how the world works when it comes down to the tiny but hugely important matter of music traditions. Through music examples from different countries, and with a special focus on the music of Epirus, Greece, music ecology, sociology, and locality become the lenses through which answers are sought to crucial questions, such as: How natural and built environments affect, almost dictate locally produced music; what kinds of tools do music traditions become in the hands of communities; and how can communities express, come together, and function through music traditions? Additionally, this thesis explores the effects on music traditions when they are relocated from one environment to another. Finally, this thesis investigates how immersion into any music tradition can affect ones’ personal musical identity, and how this enhances the development of an individual’s personal style, always taking into consideration the aspects of music ecology, sociology, and locality. In the Case of Epirus, Greece I attempt to answer these questions by visiting the birthplace of the music during my field work, which allows me to immerse myself in the environment as well as the music, communicate with the carriers of the tradition, and learn the music directly from them. Findings emerge in terms of a deep connection between music traditions and the triptych of music ecology, sociology and locality, in the example of the music of Epirus but also in general. These triptych influences, shapes and guides locally produced music, to the extent that one, when researching, should acknowledge its connection to local music to deepen the understanding of why things happen as they happen within a music tradition. Awareness of this connection would also be a powerful tool of an individual’s immersion process into new music traditions, empowering them to come to a deeper understanding of it.

To strengthen the research and consequently the understanding around music ecology, sociology and locality, a field trip was made in Epirus, Greece in the areas of Ioannina city. These areas comprised west and east Zagori, Pogoni, Parga, Igoumenitsa, Sivota and Preveza, all of which I hold very dear to my heart due to their incredible natural beauty, the strong and very much alive music tradition and the experiences I gathered in previous studies in Ioannina, the capital of the region of Epirus.

In this part, we will try to zoom in first to Epirus, in order to observe four examples from each place that give a clear, almost defining idea of how music tradition is unbreakably linked to locality, the environment and the local societies. Finally, we will try to understand the similarities and differences between the different localities of Epirus. Where differences are discerned, we will investigate the reasons behind them and where similarities are encountered, we will try to understand the possible characteristics that lead to them, or the possible randomness that creates these similarities.

In Epirus, I managed to spend the first half of August 2021, where, based in the city of Ioannina, I organised four big excursions to all the possible village complexes and natural sites. The purpose was to become emerged in the local natural and built environment, but also observe the way of life, the habits and the rhythms of life in each of them. The main trips were separated into three main excursions. In the first excursion, I visited the villages on the western Zagori complex, Aspragelloi, DiIlofo, Kipi, Monodendri, Aristi, Papigo, and Bikos Gorge. I witnessed the fascinating ways of life from one place to the next. On the second excursion day, I visited the villages of Pogoni complex, Kalpaki, Parakalamos, Delvinaki and Pogoniani. In the third excursion I moved towards the south, visiting Parga and Igoumenitsa by the seaside this time, and in the 4^th and final trip I visited Sivota and Preveza.

During previous visits, I have experienced the head village of Kefalovriso, the monastery of Moluvdoskepasti, and also Metsovo, Agnanta, Pramanta and Kalarites of Eastern Zagori.

Apart from the visits to the above places and the attempt to become one with each place, I had the honour to be hosted and talk with the siblings Maria Siouti and Christodoulos Sioutis and their beautiful families in Pedini, Ioannina. I also met Makis Baklatzis online, who is not originally from Epirus, but has studied and gathered valuable information on Epirus and its music tradition out of love for the tradition.

Out of these two trips we will attempt to share the observations and try to give some more information to compose a better understanding around music locality, music ecology and music sociology through four examples.

5.0 Case study and context

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