At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe is living in peace and prosperity. The “Belle Époque” is an outgrowth of previous important historical events and developments. The networks that are created and which evolve funnel both people and their products, tangible and intangible. It is within this multi-layered world that sound recording and sound reproduction is invented. Early record labels send mobile crews literally all over the world to record local musicians. The range of the repertoire is endless. Cosmopolitanism in large urban centers favors polystylisms and polymorphisms. Colonialism, revolutions, conflicts, refugee flows; the theater, cinema, radio, photography, orchestras’ tours, but also circulations in all kinds of commercial channels in a world that evolves dynamically and anisotropically, form a complex network of “centers” and “peripheries” in alternating roles setting musical idioms in motion, both literally and figuratively. The networks in which the Greek-speaking musics participate, constantly conversing with their co-tenants, are magnificent. Discography has already provided important tools in understanding the relationships that developed between “national” repertoires. The result of this ongoing research is “Cosmopolitanism in Greek Historical Discography”.

Historical sources underline the close relations between Italian-speaking and Greek-speaking music. The conversations that developed with specific places, such as the Ionian Islands, the Dodecanese and Patras, as well as their results, are enough to highlight the strong ties between the two ethno-cultural groups. Furthermore, relationships were forged in places where the two ethnicities lived together, such as, for example, in the case of cosmopolitan Smyrna (Izmir) in the Ottoman Empire, or that of New York, where Italians and Greeks immigrated. When researching the historical material, it seems that one particular city in the Italian peninsula developed special relations with the large urban centers where Greek-speaking musicians played a leading role: it was Naples, with its famous Canzone Napoletana. “Smyrniopoula” belongs to a corpus of songs from which the Greek protagonists borrowed music and/or lyrics from pre-existing Neapolitan-speaking songs. In many cases, the appropriations concern not only Neapolitan-speaking songs but the Italian language as a whole, since, often, the original Neapolitan-speaking songs were translated into Italian, from which the loan arose. These songs arrived at the Greek-speaking world either directly or indirectly, through other repertoire networks. In any case, the circulation of musics is already a reality before the 20th century with theatrical and musical performances tours, but also with the networks of music publishing houses. Discography is not only embedded in this context, but plays a key role in its transformation. The appropriation by Greek musicians is twofold: on the one hand are the lyrics, which are now in Greek (often, in fact, they have nothing to do with the original ones), and, on the other hand, are the performance practices: different instrumentation, different singing style, often differences in melodic and rhythmic forms but also in the harmonies. Greek musicians adapt what they hear to their own condition, based on their own capabilities. After all, the mandolins, the guitars, the marches, polyphonic song and the bel canto singing style are characteristics that reveal the influences of the Canzone Napoletana on the Greek-speaking urban popular song. It should also be noted that, in various cases, often due to the great international success of the songs, the network that is finally formed is extremely complex and does not only concern Greek-Italian relations.

According to the available sources, the first recordings of the song “Smyrniopoula” were made in 1908. More specifically, on June 26 or 27 it was recorded in England (see Kalyviotis, 2023: 122-133) by Alexander Sterio (Alexandros Stergiadis) for Gramophone (Concert Record Gramophone 8773 e – 5-12573) and probably on June of the same year in Constantinople (Istanbul), by the group Smyrnaiki Estudiantina (Smyrnaean Estudiantina) for Odeon (CX 1881 – No 58579).

At this point, it should be noted that scholars are often confused about the names of the groups, whose number increased rapidly in a short time. Quite often, the same group seems to use more than one name (like the Estudiantina Sideris). The most problematic identification is often made between the Estudiantina Sideris or the Estudiantina Vasilakis with the Smyrnaiki Estudiantina.

The fact that Sideris and his estudiantina performed in Smyrna may prompt scholars to label it as “smyrnaiki” (i.e. from Smyrna); on the record labels, however, its name is printed as “Smyrnaiki Estudiantina”. An exception, based on the data collected so far, are two recordings made in December 1911, in Smyrna, by the Estudiantina Vasilakis for Gramophone. In these two recordings, the group is printed on the labels as “Smyrnaiki Estudiantina (Vasilakis’)” (see Kalyviotis, 2002, Ordoulidis 2021b, “Karolina” and “Hip Aidi”, 2353y – 3-14711). The above concerns the records and their labels. The documents of the record labels themselves however also constitute primary sources. For example, Gramophone's documents regarding recordings have been indexed by Alan Kelly, and the results of this research are included in his online database. Unlike records, the evidence under study in Kelly's work adds new information: specifically, 17 records were found, where in the field "Session Performer(s)" one can read "Smyrneiki Estudiantina (Vasilaki)". Nevertheless, in these 17 records are also included some for which we have the record in our possession, in which the term "Smyrneiki" (Smyrnean) is absent from the label. It is possible that the record labels chose to list the term "Smyrneiki" on the labels for only one of the two bands in order to avoid confusion among buyers.

These two groups (Smyrnaiki Estudiantina and Estudiantina Vasilakis) had aesthetic musical differences that render their identification problematic. Smyrnaiki Estudiantina’s style is what Kokkonis describes as “à la greca”, which moves between the two large, quite fluid, of course, poles of “à la turca” and “à la franga” (Kokkonis, 2017: 97). The Estudiantina Sideris' style is clearly faithful to the “alafranca” musical and cultural concept. The discrepancies concern the placement of the singers’ voices, the selection and use of instruments, the repertoire that was being recorded and the performance practices. In fact, quite often each estudiantina group is identified with its own singer(s) (for example, G. Tsanakas with the Smyrnaiki Estudiantina and Giorgos Savaris with the Estudiantina Vasilakis).

Another recording of “Smyrniopoula” was made by the group Elliniki Estudiantina (Greek Estudiantina) in March 1909, or in April according to Hugo Strötbaum (see here), in Smyrna, for Gramophone (Gramophone Concert Record 12804b – 6-12688). In the available sources (see Alan Kelly, Kalyviotis, 2023: 122-133 and Hugo Strötbaum) there other recordings entitled “Smyrniopoula”, for which, however, no audio material has so far been found:

– “Ι Smyrniopoula”, Elliniki Estudiantina (Greek Estudiantina), Gramophone 12301b, Constantinople, February 28, 1909.
– “Ι Smyrniopoula”, Mlle Simonides, Gramophone 12410b, Constantinople, March 8, 1909.
– “Ι Smyrniopoula”, Mlle Simonides, Gramophone 12410½b – 4-13521, Constantinople, March 8, 1909.
– “Smyrniopoula”, Elliniki Estudiantina (Greek Estudiantina), Gramophone 12804½ b – 6-12688Χ, Constantinople, March or April 1909.
– “Smyrniopoula”, Estudiantina N. Christodoulidis, Favorite 4015-t – 1-59025, Constantinople, July 11, 1910.
– “Ι Smyrniopoula”, Antonis Melitsianos, Grammavox 13009, Constantinople, 1910-1912.

Some of the above recordings, given the absence of a record code, we can assume that it was not released on the market.

Two recordings were made in New York for Columbia: the first on April 26, 1911 (19315-1 – E834) under the title "I Smyrniopoula" and performed by P. Armandos, and the second by Georgios Chelmis around November 1917 (58999 – E-3804). This is the present recording entitled “Evmorfi mou Smyrniopoula”.

The song is an adaptation with Greek lyrics of the neapolitan song “Nanninella” set to music by Vincenzo Di Chiara (Naples, June 22, 1864 – Bagnoli, Naples, January 12, 1937) and lyrics by Antonio Barbieri (Frasso Telesino, Italy, April 26, 1859 – Naples, September 8, 1931). According to Franco Fabbri (2016: 33 and 2019: 79), the song was a great success at Elvira Donnarumma’s performances at the Eldorado Theater in Naples in 1906 and in 1909 it was recorded by the vocal ensemble Figli di Ciro (Zonophone 13347½b – V 92475, Naples, May 22, 1909). The song was also recorded, probably in the first decade of the 20th century in Naples, by the soprano Giuseppina Lufrano with the accompaniment of a guitar and a mandolin (Pathé 84384).

The musical score was included in "La tavola rotonda, Piedigrotta 1906", p. 13–14 (a literary, illustrated, music newspaper that was published every Sunday), published by the F. Bideri publishing house in Naples on September 6, 1906. “Piedigrotta”, which is written on the headline of the newspaper, refers to one of the most famous and oldest religious festivals that took place in Naples. During the festival, a music competition took place, which, in the 19th century, turned into a dynamic festival. This festival took the form of a commercial mechanism which played a key role in shaping and promoting Neapolitan song.

In the Greek musical score, which was released by the S. Christidis publishing house in Constantinople, the song is mentioned as an adaptation by P. Tsampounaris (or Tsampounaras) with lyrics by G. Lamprynidis. In addition, according to the musical score published by Georgios D. Fexis’ publishing house entitled "Asma dikaiosynis", the song "Nanninella", adapted by Theofrastos Sakellaridis and with different lyrics by Bampis Anninos and Giorgos Tsokopoulos, was included in the first show of the revue “Panathinaia” (written by Bampis Anninos and Giorgos Tsokopoulos, music by Theofrastos Sakellaridis). It premiered on July 6, 1907 at the Nea Skini theater by the Kostas Sayior troupe and had as its main theme the immigration wave to the USA.

Τhe database which emerged from the research conducted by Alan Kelly contains the following two recordings:

– "Dikeossini", Yangos Psammatianos, Gramophone 10723b – 14-12965 και Zonophone X-2-102659, Athens Greece, 10-1907. However, according to Hugo Strötbaum's catalog (see here), the recording, which is entitled "Dikaiosyni (ek ton Panathinaion)", was recorded in September – October 1907 by choir.
– "I Dikeossini (Panathinea)", Estudiantina Grecque, Gramophone 13403b – 3-14580, (Izmir) Turkey, 05-1909. However, according to Hugo Strötbaum's research (see here), the recording "I dikaiosyni (ek ton Panathinaion)" was made in Athens.

Another recording has been found so far, which was performed by Melpomeni Kolyva in Athens probably in 1907-1908 under the title "I dikaiosini (ek ton Panathinaion)" for Odeon (Odeon Gx 111 – X 58523). Also, in the book Spanies ichografiseis mikron etaireion 1905-1930 (2020: 94), Aristomenis Kalyviotis includes a recording of the song, under the title "I dikaiosyni ek ton Panathinaion", which was made in Athens in 1908 by Alex. Kandreviotis (Ο Apollon A 135).

This evidence reveal the fast reflex actions of the discographical network, as regards cases of popular songs which are introduced in the Greek repertoire, they are printed as musical scores, they are included in shows and, ultimately, they are introduced in discography. If nothing else, musicians behace as the radios of the time, by recording great hits.

The song “Asma dikaiosynis”, in a more recent performance by Chrysoula Diavati (see here from 07′ 29″ to 09′ 18″), was included in the episode “I diorganosi” (The organization) of the dramatized documentary television series “Istoria grammeni me notes” (History written with notes), scripted by theater professor Theodoros Chatzipantazis, directed by Giorgos M. Dampasis and musically arranged by Takis Athinaios. The series, produced by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (commonly shortened to ERT), was broadcast by the public television station ET-1 in 1983. The same episode includes two more covers of Neapolitan songs from the revue “Panathinaia” of 1907. These songs are "Asma stratou" (see here from 09′ 20″ to 11′ 50″), which was recorded in Greek discography with different lyrics and under the title "Ah mi se filisa", and "Gyrise piso" (see here from 11′ 53″ to 15′ 42″).

About thirty-four years after the first presentation of the song in Naples and its publication in a musical score, Markos Vamvakaris would use the melody of the couplet of "Nanninella" as a couplet in his song "Eisai afrati san fratzola". The recording, which Vamvakaris signed under the pseudonym A. Rokos, was made in Athens in 1940 by the composer and Apostolos Chatzichristos, accompanied by a popular orchestra conducted by Spyros Peristeris (Odeon Go 3557 – GA 7294 / A 247187 b).

Research and text: Leonardos Kounadis and Nikos Ordoulidis