Ellines Akrites is a music ensemble that dives deep into the rich tapestry of Greek heritage, passionately preserving and interpreting the traditional music of Greece. Their name, suggestive of medieval Greek frontiersmen who protected the Byzantine borders, reflects their aim to guard and celebrate Hellenic culture, stretching from its historical core to its far flung horizons. Each of their albums is a curated anthology, transporting listeners to different geographical regions of Greek influence, from the storied Byzantine capital in their album titled "Guardians Of Hellenism - Constantinople, Sea Of Marmara, Bithynia," to the idyllic islands of the Dodecanese and beyond.

The ensemble’s work is characteristically thorough and scholarly, often themed around geographic clusters, such as in "Guardians Of Greek Hellenism - Ionian Islands,Eptanisa" which pays homage to the musical traditions of the seven Ionian Islands, and "Guardians Of Hellenism - Carpathos, Cassos & Castellorizo," exploring the tunes of these remote islands that have preserved their unique musical traditions over centuries. Their volumes such as "Ellines Akrites Vol. 4: Pontos, Cappadocia" demonstrate their dedication to representing even the most historically contested and culturally rich regions, which have witnessed Greek populations and their subsequent displacement. Through precise musicianship and respectful representation of its source material, Ellines Akrites not only provides Greek diaspora with a touchstone back to their ancestral homelands but also introduces the wider world to the depth and beauty of Greek folk music.

Genres

Greek Folk

Nisiotika

Pontian Folk

Latest Release

Ellines Akrites (The Hellenic Music Archives Ensemble)

Ellines Akrites

Album - 11 Tracks - Released December 1, 2010