Drosoulites for Cretan lyra and orchestra - Konstantinos Koutoumpis

The legend of Drosoulites is well known in the island of Crete where it originates from. It is a series of visions, an optical illusion of humanlike shadows that are conjured during dawn, for ca. 10 minutes, in late May. They appear as though they are marching from the Psiloritis mountain towards Frangokastello in Sfakia, Crete. The Greek troops that defended the fort of Frangokastello, died after a seven-day siege by the Ottomans in the very same period, the May of 1828. Thus, the legend says that the spectral troops march back from the monastery to retake the castle on the anniversary of their defeat, only to disappear with the first rays of the sun, waiting to return to their eternal battle again and again until the end of time. This piece follows the Drosoulites on their hopeless quest incorporating elements of the Pentozali, the Cretan war dance.