Dimitris Kountouras Album Review of Ostium: Early Flute Monodies
Dimitris Kountouras’ Ostium: Early Flute Monodies is a mesmerizing journey through the haunting melodies of the medieval world, centered on the rich musical heritage of his native Greece. This stunning album showcases Kountouras’ masterful artistry on a variety of early flutes, each track offering a glimpse into the expressive depths of ancient musical traditions.
From the very first notes, Ostium captivates with its ethereal beauty, transporting listeners to a time when music was an intimate, spiritual experience. The album is steeped in the modal colors and intricate rhythms that define medieval and early Eastern Mediterranean music, creating a deeply evocative soundscape.
One of the standout tracks, "Hicaz Ilahi," pulses with Middle Eastern energy, its buoyant rhythms and ornamental flourishes painting a vibrant musical tapestry.
Kountouras’ phrasing is both expressive and agile, bringing the melody to life with a natural, unforced flow.
Another highlight, "Sansarlat," is a well-known medieval tune, here given a thrilling interpretation with the addition of percussion and other period instruments. The interplay between Kountouras and his collaborators makes for a riveting, almost hypnotic listening experience, demonstrating the rhythmic vitality that characterized much of medieval performance practice.
"El Azybie" is yet another track that hints at the fusion of East and West, its melodic lines infused with the rich ornamentation and modal shifts typical of Middle Eastern traditions. The entire album is a testament to the fluid exchange of musical ideas across medieval Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
What makes Ostium particularly compelling is Kountouras' remarkable ability to infuse these ancient melodies with both historical authenticity and personal expression. His command of historical flutes—before the 18th century—is unparalleled, and his performances feel less like museum pieces and more like living, breathing works of art.
For lovers of early music, Ostium is an absolute gem, offering a rare glimpse into a world where music was a bridge between cultures, emotions, and spiritual expression. Dimitris Kountouras proves himself not only as an incredible flutist but also as a storyteller of forgotten melodies, reviving them with sensitivity and virtuosity. A must-listen!
Dimitris Kountouras specializes on early recorders and flutes ad in the interpretation and history of music until the 18th century. Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, began his musical training on the recorder and flute with G. Gourdier and I. Macovei. He studied recorder, traverso and Early Music at the Utrecht School of the Arts, in the Netherlands, with H. ter Schegget and W. Hazelzet graduating with a Second Phase performer’s diploma. On a Marco Fodella Scholarship he continued his studies on historical flutes at the Early Music Institute in Milan under M. Gatti and D. Bragetti. Furthermore he concluded his studies on the traverso at the Conservatoire of Vienna and he got a Masters on Medieval Music from the Musikhochschule of Trossingen studying under K. Boeke. He got a PhD on historical musicology from the Athens University and was a post-doc scholar for the Centre of Humanistic Studies (2016) for his original research project “Music and poetry of the Troubadours at the Latin Kingdom of Thessalonica after 1204”.