MEET THE COMPOSER

ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS

As a composer, Smaro Gregoriadou studies the sonority of ancient Greek drama and the intertemporal vocal tradition, shaping her compositional idiom on principles like subtraction, primordiality, energetic alteration, micromonophony. Smaro won numerous international music awards for composition. Her compositions have been premiered and commissioned by important artistic institutions and ensembles worldwide, including ALEA III, Ensemble Octandre, Helsinki Chamber Ensemble, Open Source Guitars, Biennale Rome, Trossingen University of Music, Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens, and many others. She is a member of the Greek ISCM or Greek Composers Union. Here follows a selection of Smaro's original compositions. Please contact her in case of interest for scores, parts, available recordings, or other information.

Musical Research on the Greek Drama

Ουσία και Αξία της Μουσικής Τέχνης στο Αρχαίο Δράμα

2 Short Movements after Beckett [VIDEO]

23		2 short movements after Beckett for instrumental ensemble
	PERFORMANCE IDENTITY	Commissioned in 2022 by the Greek Composers’ Union for the 90 years of its establishment. Premiered in June 7, 2022. “Re-activate Music” @ Athens Epidaurous Festival Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music, Konstantinos Terzakis, conductor
	MOVEMENTS	1. Slow and quiet 2. Vivo
	ORCHESTRATION	Flute, alto saxophone, trombone, vibraphone, double bass
	YEAR	2022
	DURATION BASED ON	3 minutes A quote by Samuel Beckett “My peace is there in the receding mist when I may cease from treading these long shifting thresholds and live the space of a door that opens… and shuts…”

Rubaiyat from Rumi’s Divan-i Kebir (13th c) - Cycle I: The Journey for voices, psalter, flute & guitar

23		Rubaiyat from Rumi’s Divan-i Kebir (13^thc) Cycle I: The Journey for voices, psalter, flute & guitar
	PERFORMANCE IDENTITY	Translation: Millicent Alexander Narration in Persian: Shahzad Mazhar Female voice, guitar: Smaro Gregoriadou Psalter: Berat Bilinmeyen Flute: Dafni Biniari
	MOVEMENTS	1. Lullaby 2. Arabesque 3. War Dance 4. Nocturne 5. Amen 6. Taqsim 7. Mysterion
	ORCHESTRATION	Voices, psalter, flute & guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2019
	DURATION BASED ON	25 minutes 7 Quatrains (rubaiyat) by J. Rumi

El Aleph, after Jorge Luis Borges, for guitar ensemble

22		El Aleph, after Jorge Luis Borges
		Premiered by OPEN SOURCE GUITARS (Germany) in “El Aleph” CD by DELOS DE3490, 2016. Direction: Helmut Oesterreich
	MOVEMENTS	I. Prism II. Cantus III. Yo, no…
	ORCHESTRATION	Guitar Ensemble
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2013
	DURATION PROGRAM NOTES	10 min. Read here

Euripides Bacchae for four actors and musician (voice, yali-tambour, percussion)

21		Euripides Bacchae, for four actors & musician
		Premiered in Athens, in February 2010 and has been performed 25 times in Greece by CHORIAMBOS THEATRE COMPANY
	MOVEMENTS	7 SCENES 1. Dionysus’ entrance PARODOS: “Asias apo yas…” 2. Pentheus 1st STASIMON: “Ayiotes…” 3. Pentheus – The Stranger 2nd STASIMON: “Acheloou kore Dirke…” 4. Palace miracles – First Messenger – Pentheus’ challenge 3rd STASIMON: “Araye pote…” 5. Dionysus – Pentheus 4th STASIMON: “Myteres Skyles…” 6. Second Messenger 5th STASIMON: “Ston Bacchio xarizo…” 7. Exodus
	ORCHESTRATION	4 Actors and Musician (Voice, yali-tambur, percussion)
	YEAR	2009
	DURATION	1 hour
	COMPOSER’S NOTES	The play was interpreted in both ancient and new Greek in an attempt to reveal the common origins and consubstantial dynamic of the two idioms, as far as their very musical substance is concerned. Its premiere had been scheduled for February 2010 and has enjoyed 25 successful performances in Athens. As was the case with Antigone and Sophocles, the particular musical/sound idiosyncrasy of the euripidean poetry has been primarily exploited there. Bacchae drew inspiration from the specific art of the ancient Greek prosody and the Greek folk song. The play consisted both of a theatrical and musical event, focusing in the sound, the rhythm and the musicality of the ancient poetic speech, in connection to its utterance in modern Greek. This is exactly where the music had been really focused: to a re-composition of the tragic Space, Time and Speech of the Bacchae through musical vibrations and structures. The acting bodies of the performers penetrated like oscillating strings into the individual sonorities of each single choral ode or scene of the mysterious bacchean universe, a literary or purely semantic reconstruction of which would rather be purposeless or ambiguous for today’s audience. Read here more about Smaro’s research on the ancient Greek drama PDF in Greek: ΟΥΣΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΞΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΣ ΤΕΧΝΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΔΡΑΜΑ
	PERFORMANCE IDENTITY	Theatrical direction: Aris Biniaris Musical composition and direction: Smaro Gregoriadou Actors: Demetra Gkliati, Yiannis Kanellis, Aris Biniaris, Stavros Seretis Musician: Smaro Gregoriadou

Euripides: Bacchae (Extract from 2nd Stasimon)

Balkan Dances for solo guitar [VIDEOS]

19		Balkan Dances for solo guitar
		Recorded by Smaro in her CD “Reinventing Guitar II“, DELOS DE3398, 2009. Published in 2011 by BRANDON MUSIC LTD
	MOVEMENTS	Nr 1, on a Bulgarian folk theme Nr 2, on a Greek folk song from Karpathos (A brave young soldier…)
	ORCHESTRATION	Solo guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2006
	DURATION	6’40’’ – 3’40’’, total: 11 min. approx. Watch Smaro performing her Balkan Dances live!

3 Sketches for flute & string orchestra

18		3 Sketches for Flute & String Orchestra

	MOVEMENTS	I. Introduction – Moderato II. Meno mosso quasi larghetto III. Allegro
	ORCHESTRATION	Flute, String orchestra (4-4-3-2-1)
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2004
	DURATION	11 min.

3 fragments of Heraclitus for mezzo soprano & orchestral ensemble

17		3 fragments of Heraclitus
		Finalist composition in ALEA III 23rd International Composition Competition. Premiered by ALEA III in Boston, 1/10/2005. Penelope Bitzas, mezzo-soprano. Theodore Antoniou, music direction.
	MOVEMENTS	1. Sivylla 2. Lament 3. Dance: To a Child the Kingdom belongs
	ORCHESTRATION	Flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon, horn F, piano, solo mezzo soprano, strings (2-1-1-1), percussion (2 players)
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2004
	DURATION	4’ – 7’ – 4’, total: 14 min. approx.

3 fragments of Heraclitus

I. Sivylla

II. Lament

III. Dance: To a Child the Kingdom belongs

ALEA III, Boston, 1/10/2005.
Penelope Bitzas, mezzo-soprano. Theodore Antoniou, music direction

Delphes III for mixed chorus & orchestra

15		Delphes III for mixed Chorus & Orchestra

	MOVEMENTS	I. Lento II. Adagio III. Moderato
	ORCHESTRATION	Mixed chorus and orchestra
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2003
	DURATION	24 min.

Delphes III for mixed chorus & orchestra – MIDI
I. Lento

II. Adagio

III. Moderato

Sophocles Antigone for actor and musician (voice, guitar, psalter, percussion)

20		Sophocles Antigone in original ancient Greek text
		Premiered in Athens in February 2007 and has been performed more than 60 times in Athens, France, Montenegro, by CHORIAMBOS THEATRE COMPANY
	MOVEMENTS	7 SCENES 1. Antigone – Ismene PARODOS: Ode to the Sun 2. Kreon 1st STASIMON: Ode to Man 3. Antigone – Kreon 2nd STASIMON: Ode to Zeus 4. Aemon – Kreon 3rd STASIMON: Ode to Eros 5. Antigone’s KOMMOS (lament & final exit) 6. Teiresias 5th STASIMON: Ode to Bacchus 7. Kreon’s KOMMOS (lament & final exit)
	ORCHESTRATION	Actor and Musician (Voice, guitar, psalter, percussion)
	YEAR	2007
	DURATION COMPOSER’S NOTES PERFORMANCE IDENTITY	1 hour CHORIAMBUS TC’s first production has been Sophocles’ Antigone, presented in original ancient Greek text by 2 performers-musicians (2007-09). It explored the musical tissue of Sophoclean poetry and activated the ancient function of such a fundamental scenic synthesis, as an actor, who undertakes all main roles, paired with a musician, who enlightens the pre-designed inner musical movement of the actions; namely a theatrical analogy of the function of the priest and chant singer. Choral songs were executed according to the original metrical-rhythmical sets of verses designed thoroughly by Sophocles himself, who happened to be one of the most eminent musicians of his time. All main characters (Antigone, her sister Ismene, king Kreon, his son Aemon, soothsayer Teiresias) as well as the Chorus (consisted by distinguished elderly Lords of Thebes), were interpreted on stage by one actor, Aris Biniaris, who explored his full physical potential in order to achieve necessary differentiations of roles. The musician, Smaro Gregoriadou, supported the action by unveiling the musical tissue of the play and composed the original music. Antigone shared more than 60 performances with Greek and international audiences and received a remarkably positive response. Read here more about Smaro’s research on the ancient Greek drama PDF in Greek: ΟΥΣΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΞΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΣ ΤΕΧΝΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΔΡΑΜΑ Musical research, composition and direction: Smaro Gregoriadou Theatrical development: Aris Biniaris Artistic direction: Yorgos Biniaris Actor: Aris Biniaris Musician: Smaro Gregoriadou

Eurydice, Memorial Andrey Tarkovsky for two narrators, oboe, bass recorder, guitar, violoncello and percussion

14		Eurydice, Memorial Andrey Tarkovsky
		Composition commissioned by Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens and premiered in Athens, 9/12/2002
	MOVEMENTS	1
	ORCHESTRATION	2 narrators, oboe, bass recorder, guitar, violoncello, percussion
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2002
	DURATION BASED ON	9-10 min. Arseni Tarkovsky’s poem: Euridice (in Greek) Read Composer’s notes here (in Greek)

Eurydice, Memorial Andrey Tarkovsky

Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens, 9/12/2002
Narrators: Tamila Koulieva, Dimitris Kataleifos. Oboe: George Panousakis. Bass recorder: Panayiotis Sioras. Guitar: Smaro Gregoriadou. Violoncello: Marilena Vassou. Percussion: Athina Kapsetaki, Lampros Lampouras

The Hollow Men III, after T.S.Eliot for soprano solo, baritone solo, Bb bass clarinet, double base, mixed chorus and string orchestra

13		The Hollow Men III, after T.S.Eliot

	MOVEMENTS	1
	ORCHESTRATION	Soprano solo, baritone solo, Bb bass clarinet, double base, mixed chorus and string orchestra
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2002
	DURATION BASED ON	13 min. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men

Variations and Canon for violin, violoncello & guitar [VIDEOS]

16		Variations and Canon for Violin, Violoncello & Guitar
		Premiered in Athens, Diethnes Conservatory, 28/06/2003
	MOVEMENTS	Theme, 7 Variations and Canon
	ORCHESTRATION	Violin, violoncello, guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2003
	DURATION	15 min. First World Performance: Variations & Canon have been composed by Smaro Gregoriadou in 2003 and have been premiered in the same year in a live concert in Athens (Diethnes Conservatory, 28/6/03), from where this video comes. Guitar: Smaro Gregoriadou. Violin: Stefanos Rudini-mila. Violoncello: Marilenna Vassou

Fantasia for flute and guitar

12		Fantasia for Flute and Guitar (12-tone)

	MOVEMENTS	1
	ORCHESTRATION	Flute, guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2002
	DURATION	7 min.

Fantasia for flute and guitar – MIDI

Five Epigrams for piano solo, dedicated to George Hadjinikos

11		Five Epigrams for Piano solo
		Dedicated to George Hadjinikos
	MOVEMENTS	1. Andante leggiero 2. Moderato con moto 3. Agitato 4. Adagio 5. Allegretto
	ORCHESTRATION	Piano solo
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2002
	DURATION	4 – 5 min. approx.

Five Epigrams for solo piano, dedicated to George Hadjinikos- MIDI

1. Andante leggiero
The word is: in the twinkling of an eye
It is not, and the ages pass away.
Again the world is born, each moment sees
A heaven and an earth; each hour knows
A grey-haired elder, who but now was young…
(M. Shabistari, Secret Garden, 10)

2. Moderato con moto
Oh, happy moment when we leave ourselves
For perfect wealth in saintly poverty!
Wisdom and faith, reliance, reason too,
All passed away, drunken and dazed we lie
Upon the earth…
(M. Shabistari, Secret Garden, 10)

3. Agitato
The waves run high, night is clouded with fears,
And eddying whirlpools clash and roar;
How shall my drowning voice strike their ears
Whose light-freighted vessels have reached the shore?
(Hafiz, Divan, I)

4. Adagio
A voice whispered to me last night:
“There is not such thing
as a voice
whispering
at night!”
(H. Ansari)

5. Allegretto
Enough to think that Truth can be:
come sit we where the roses glow,
Indeed he knows not how to know
who knows not also how to ‘unknow.
(R. Burton, Kasidah, VI)

Two Studies on Subjective Time for woodwind

10		Two Studies on Subjective Time for woodwind

	MOVEMENTS	2
	ORCHESTRATION	Woodwind quartet
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2001
	DURATION	Duration varies depending on interpretation

Sonata for flute, viola and guitar

9		Sonata for flute, viola and guitar

	MOVEMENTS	Ι. Allegro con spirito II. Tempo di Habanera ΙΙΙ. Fugue
	ORCHESTRATION	Flute, viola, guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2001
	DURATION	19 min.

Χερουβικόν - Haerouvikon for male voice, percussion, piano, double bass

8		Χερουβικόν – Haerouvikon

	MOVEMENTS	1
	ORCHESTRATION	Male voice, percussion, piano, double base
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2001
	DURATION	17 min.

Haerouvikon – MIDI

To Χυτήριο των Ψυχών – The Foundry of Souls for brass septet & metal objects

7		To Χυτήριο των Ψυχών – The Foundry of Souls

	MOVEMENTS	Ι. Choral (Lento Sostenuto) II. To Hyterio ton Psychon (Moderato) ΙΙΙ. Hfaistoteukta (Adagio)
	ORCHESTRATION	Brass septet and metal objects
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2001
	DURATION	14 min.

3 Songs for Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream

6		3 Songs for Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream

	MOVEMENTS	Ι. Του Στημόνη II. Titania’s lullaby ΙΙΙ. Final Song
	ORCHESTRATION	Voice and guitar or voice and piano
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2000
	DURATION	12 min.

Sonata for violin and guitar

5		Sonata for Violin and Guitar

	MOVEMENTS	Ι. Allegro con spirito II. Grave ΙΙΙ. Α funny fugue
	ORCHESTRATION	Violin, guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2000
	DURATION	20 min.

O Κρητικός – O Kritikos (after Dionysios Solomos' poem) for narrator, mezzo-soprano, oboe, guitar, violoncello

4		O Κρητικός – O Kritikos (after Dionysios Solomos’ poem)

	MOVEMENTS	5 Episodes
	ORCHESTRATION	Narrator, soprano solo, oboe, guitar, violoncello
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	2000
	DURATION	19 min.

O Kritikos (after the poem of D. Solomos)
Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Midi instruments with Smaro’s voice

Scherzo for woodwind

3		Scherzo for woodwind
		Composition presented in Terza Rassegna Internationale di Composizione “Alfeo Gigli” in Bologna, Italy, 2003, and premiered by Ensemble Octandre, 28/06/2003
	MOVEMENTS	1
	ORCHESTRATION	Woodwind quartet
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	1999
	DURATION	5 – 5.30 min. Read here composer’s notes

Scherzo for woodwind

Ensemble Octandre, Terza Rassegna Internationale di Composizione “Alfeo Gigli” in Bologna, 28/06/2003

Four Poems for the Dark Night of the Soul for string quartet

2		Four Poems for the Dark Night of the Soul
		Composition awarded in Biennale Young Artists, Rome 1999
	MOVEMENTS	I. Melancholy ΙΙ. The Tale of the Light-Maker (2 versions). II. The Scream III. Dance of Life
	ORCHESTRATION	String quartet
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	1999
	DURATION	20 min.

Tale of the Light-Maker (version 2: soprano and strings)

Soprano: Ellina Ioannidou

“Kae min Sisyfon”, Prelude & Fugue for solo guitar

1		“Kae min Sisyfon”, Prelude & Fugue for solo guitar
		1st Price Composition Competition, National Conservatory of Athens, 1998, performed by the composer
	MOVEMENTS	2
	ORCHESTRATION	Solo guitar
	YEAR of COMPOSITION	1998
	DURATION	9 min.