Alekos BARDAS was born in Chios.
He stopped going to high school, and started to cut wood so as to pay for rent as
well as his teacher, Chatzistamatis (student of Georgios Binakis, in turn student
of Georgios Raidestinos) for psaltic lessons.After
many years, his teacher would teach him for free, if he’d in turn accompany
him so as to "help out" during panygereis.
He quickly became known for his crystal clear and very versatile voice.
He emigrated to Montreal (Canada), and found a little church, Agios Nektarios,
where he has been chantingever since.He’d work in refrigerated rooms, which was detrimental to his voice
(yet, due to its exceptional quality, this can barely be heard by the rest of us). He is now retired. A very
generous man, he taught Alekos Tzintzis, Nicolaos Pantelopoulos and Georgios K.
Michalakis for free. He taught his students
as long as they did well in school.
His advice:
Study so as to become your own boss: "Don’t waste too much time with psaltiki, I’ll give all I can."
One must not attempt vocalisations beyond one’s vocal capacities:one should know what is possible or "impossible".
A psaltis’ voice "matures" from the age of 35 and on...
If it’s not written, don’t bother writing it: it’s there all right, but you just have to listen and learn it!
Don’t spend time gossiping.. as a matter of fact, don’t gossip at all!
Study so as to become your own boss: "Don’t waste too much time with psaltiki, I’ll give all I can."
One must not attempt vocalisations beyond one’s vocal capacities:one should know what is possible or "impossible".
A psaltis’ voice "matures" from the age of 35 and on...
If it’s not written, don’t bother writing it: it’s there all right, but you just have to listen and learn it!
Don’t spend time gossiping.. as a matter of fact, don’t gossip at all!
Not only is this psaltis extraordinarily calliphonus, but
his attacks are exceptional, regardless of the complex vocalisations ("trills")
which are precise and which never impede upon the "lipsis of chronos" (engagement into tempo). He is one of the last great interpreters which must absolutely
be recorded seriously, if we are to keep something of our tradition.
Recordings
The following recordings were offered by G. K. Michalakis
In Montreal (1985):
Theos Kyrios, Barys Enharmonic
[mp3 , 943 Kb]
Kathisma of Agia Sophia
[mp3 , 484 Kb]
Slow Evlogetaria of Holy and Great Saturday, Petros Lambadarios, Plagal First Mode
[rm, 416 Kb]
Sunday Antiphonons, Mode Barys Enharmonic
[mp3, 1.8 Mb]
Kyrie Eleison, Mode barys enharmonic
[mp3, 773 Kb]
Heirmos "Stavron Charaxas"
kyr Bardas, NP, GKM and ison Athanasios Bourlis (he was visiting Montrealback then)
[mp3, 2.3 Mb]
In Montreal (1997):
Evangelismos Kathisma
[mp3, 852 Kb]
Antiphona Evangelismos "Ek Neotitos Mou", Mode Legetos
[mp3, 2.7 Mb]
Evangelismos ShortHeirmologic Katavassiai
[mp3, 1.1 Mb]
Evangelismos Exaposteilarion
[mp3, 850 Kb]
Evangelismos Pasa Pnoe First Mode
[mp3, 928 Kb]
Evangelismos Lauda (Ainos) Prosomoia
[mp3, 2.2 Mb]
Slow Doxologia, Petros Byzantios, Plagal First Mode
kyr Alekos Bardas and GKM
[mp3,1.8 Mb]
Evangelismos Polyeleos Logon Agathon, Chourmouzios, Fourth Mode
[mp3, 5.0 Mb]
Anoixandarion «Ekleipoien», Theodoros Papa Paraschou of Phoka
kyr Alekos Bardas, NP, GKM and Alekos Tzintzis
[mp3, 2.3 Mb]
Anoixandarion «Doxa»
kyr Alekos Bardas, NP, GKM and Alekos Tzintzis (and helpers)
[mp3, 1.6 Mb]
Evangelismos Vesperal Sticherons "Theos Opou Bouletai", Plagal Second Mode
kyr Alekos Bardas, NP, GKM and Alekos Tzintzis (and helpers)
[mp3, 2.0 Mb]
Evangelismos Apolytikion "Simeron tis Sotirias", Fourth Mode
kyr Alekos Bardas, NP, GKM and Alekos Tzintzis (and helpers)
[mp3, 523 Kb] (a)
[mp3, 1.6 Mb] (b)
Evangelismos Kathisma
kyr Alekos Bardas, NP, GKM and Alekos Tzintzis (and helpers)
[mp3, 852 Kb]