The Other Side of Greece: Welcome to the Music Village (VIDEOS)

It was in the last three decades of the 12 century that Lavrentios, a monk from Mt Athos, felt compelled to leave Megistis Lavras Abbey of Holy Mt Athos due to the heretic dominance of Varlaam and Akindinou. Upon his arrival in Pilio, 20 kilometres east of Volos and at an altitude of 600 metres (at the site where Agios Lavrendios is now located), the only building that existed was a monastery built by Benedictine monks. Owing to the gold granted to him by the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komninos, Lavrendios completed the monastery of Agios Lavrendios (St Laurence) in 1378, on the site of the previous monastery, and, naturally, named the premises after himself. This settlement would later become one of the largest village-towns of Pilio.

The village of Agios Lavrendios owes its material prosperity not only to the absence of stifling occupational forces from mountainous areas, but also to self-rule, autonomy, the unobstructed growth in population and thriving wealth during the 17th and 18th centuries. The coastlines and fields of Agria and Lehonia are split into two equal portions of land belonging to Drakia and Agios Lavrendios respectively and are separated by a great ravine. The inhabitants developed commercial and small industry activities, created links with ex-patriate Greeks and with important European centres, whilst, on a local level, the area was reinforced by the populations of Epirotes, Vlachoi and islanders.
 

The aforementioned developments in combination with a high concentration of scholars, artists, teachers, educated priests and the operation of schools and libraries, contributed to the creation of a local society which, up to the present day, reveals, regardless of its agricultural beginnings, an urban idiosyncracy. An amalgam of cosmopolitan temperaments is apparent not only in social expressions and ideals but also in the old noble houses and the closed courtyards that still abound in this area.
 

 

LONG TRAILER MUSIC VILLAGE 2010 (1st period)

At present, about 650 years after the arrival of the first monks, Agios Lavrendios remains a village with an autonomous social life. Its preserved architectural style, the rich network of cobbled streets, the total absence of cars and its natural location in a dense forest of beech, olive and chestnut trees, create the sensation of a place which has remained unchanged throughout the centuries.

arTree, a society for musical expression, in collaboration with EKPOL, the Municipality of Artemida and the people of Agios Lavrentios, will be organizing “Music Village” for a 5th  year in a row. This event aims at pre-scheduled and spontaneous performances of musical ideas and the productive exchange of ideas and projects among artists of diverse nationalities.

At the same time, it offers sixteen workshops/masterclasses for group activities, which will be co-ordinated by artists/musicians of international calibre in the area of contemporary or historical performance and creation. The themed sections of each workshop will function integrally and will intend to approach musical art broadly, yet effectively, whilst putting particular emphasis on original and unconventional areas that have not yet been integrated into the Greek educational system.

 

LONG TRAILER MUSIC VILLAGE 2010 (2nd period)

The above-mentioned activities will take place in a centuries-old venue of historical importance, where high aesthetics are not only reflected in the local architectural style of Pilio, but are also apparent in its special natural surroundings. During their sojourn, the “temporary” residents of “Music Village”, as well as acquiring the desirable knowledge, will also have the opportunity to participate actively or passively in numerous music performances that will take place in houses and courtyards of the village and in piazzas and forest clearings. They will also have the chance to take part, together with their instructors, in walking tours / excursions and take appropriate musical instruments along. Finally, they will enjoy accommodation in traditional hostels in the village and will taste the cuisine of Pilio and the celebrated “ritual tsipouro drinking sessions” at the central village piazza.

As coordinators of this newly established music community, we invite you to take part, actively or as visitors. Rather than falling into the typical traditions of a closed circle festival or a touristic fete, we intend to establish a creative symbiosis among artists, music lovers, locals and the natural environment and hope to create an institution that will reinforce both creativity and human relations.

If you are visiting the area and would like to find out what types of events are planned for the month of August, please click here to download the 2011 pdf calendar.

For any question about workshop's availability, application process or accommodation during Music Village 2010, email the festival’s secretary (Eleni Papageorgiou): eleni@music-village.gr
Or call 0030 6973 578 422 (Monday-Friday, 19:00-21:00)

Source: site.music-village.gr