Rebetiko is a deeply emotional, fully cultural style of Greek music originating from the beginning of the 20th century. Rebetiko has often been compared to the Blues, for it is raw and emotive, music with no filter that expresses sorrow and struggle. Rebetiko grew out of the urban underworld and out of the lives of its marginalized communities. It's music speaking to hardships and joys of every day—from love and longing to rebellion and despair. The genre mainly developed in the port cities of Athens and Smyrna, nowadays Izmir, encompassing influences from the Ottoman Empire, Greek folk traditions, and even Jewish and Balkan musical styles.

I chose this topic due to how music has always made an impact on everyone's lives. There are various types of music genres that people love and feel a connection towards too. As music has evolved into becoming a more modern genre. Many consider Rebetiko as the Blues of Greece, similar to the Blues of the U.S., but they are brought up being different, as the Blues were from the poor upbringing of many, their lifestyle, and the poor environment they were surrounded by, while the Blues of the U.S. were brought up by the life of African Americans living in the south. I've always been open to various music genres. There's been being open to listening to music in other languages rather than just English and Spanish, and being introduced to Rebetiko while doing research on it was a new door of music there is in another language and brought me to a new genre similar to one I would grow up listening to.

The instruments used in rebetiko music play an indispensable role in its typical sound, which has captured the perfect balance between melodic and rhythmic elements. These instruments represent the complex cultural and historical influences in its development. The bouzouki is the most iconic instrument in rebetiko music.This instrument provides the melodic and rhythmic backbone of rebetiko music. The strumming patterns or complicated melodic runs form the essential harmonic fabric of the genre and grant rebetiko its characteristic, driven sound. The baglama is a tiny version of the bouzouki, providing a lighter, softer sound. Often, adding a layer of emotional intensity to the music. The guitar became an important instrument in rebetiko during the 1920s and 1930s. Usually to accompany the bouzouki or baglama for harmonic purposes. The guitar adds a profundity of sound, especially if one is playing with the fingers or with a plectrum. The violin is another important instrument for rebetiko music. It often plays the lead, sometimes with the melody, other times harmonized with other instruments. The violin is known to be expressive and emotive, playing even and flowing melodic lines that range to very ornamented lines. These four instruments are the best known that are used for Rebetiko music, but it is not limited to only these four but to over a total of ten, including oud, Defi, Tonbak (Goblet Drum), clarinet, cymbals, and bendir (or other frame drums). Rebetiko music brings together an enormous wealth of instruments in offering its peculiar sound. The bouzouki and baglama, with their distinct melodic capabilities, are the main instruments in the genre, with guitars, violins, and ouds providing the supporting harmony and textural elements for the music. The Defi, Tonbak, and bendir supply the percussion; the clarinet and cymbals add more emotional drama. These instruments capture its passionate, and often melancholic, mood and give it an unmistakable sound.

Rebetiko has been shaped and popularized over the years by a number of important figures. Among them, the following deserve a mention as important and key figures in the history of rebetiko: Markos Vamvakaris is often thought of as the "father of rebetiko." Indeed, this outstanding bouzouki player, singer, and composer defined the voice of early rebetiko. He sang with a deep, appealing voice and was a master of his instrument. Among his most popular songs are ‘Frangosyriani” and “To Bouzouki”, iconic songs in the genre. Vamvakaris played an important role in rebetiko becoming one of the main genres of Greek music. But also Vassilis Tsitsanis was one of the most important figures, playing a key role in its modernization. Tsitsanis was a great bouzouki player and composer, introducing rebetiko to the elements of jazz and western music. His popular songs include “Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki” and “Sto Peristeri”; both of these can be defined as timeless classics, showing his unique talent in combining old Greek sounds with new musical influences. These weren’t the only artists who made a change in Rebetiko over the past decades, but these two artists are the best known who made the change in Rebetiko music.

Vassilis Tsitsanis

Rebetiko is a genre of Greek music that originated in the early 20th century and represents a blend of traditional Greek, Ottoman, and Middle Eastern musical influences. With various music themes depicting hardships, love, crime, exile, and rebellion, often dealing with the plight of oppressed groups. Rebetiko is characterized by its expressively emotional and raw lyrics, with typical instrumentation of the bouzouki, baglama, guitar, and violin. The melodies in it are usually set to striking scales, with 9/8 or 7/8 time signatures being usual, which gives it its particular rhythmic feel. Originating first with lower social classes and the "rebetes," the performers of this kind of music and authorities repressed it due to its connections with the underworld and its spirit of rebellion. By the 1930s, it gained broader popularity and became a mainstream genre. Nowadays, rebetiko is alive and well as an integral part of Greece's cultural treasure, influential in modern Greek music, and still finding a response in the hearts of listeners all over the world. Even though rebetiko music has diminished a little over the years, it is still popular internationally and being taught in schools and universities. Rebetiko is still seen to be played around but with a different meaning of protesting with any current events happening in Greece in today’s day and age.