The library treasures of Greece, along with its archaeological legacies, have been subjected to countless catastrophes. Earthquakes, fires, wars, theft have all decimated the once rich intellectual heritage of Greeks. And it is impossible to write about music libraries in Greece without considering the whole library situation here, for the fate of the former are inextricably bound to the latter. So when Prof. Rita Benton first approached Neil Rattlif (IAML Secr. 1983-7) in 1975 to compile a directory of libraries in Greece (RISM C Series) which have resources for music researchfor Volume Five of the International Directory of Music Research Libraries, he readily agreed as he expected there would be so little research material he would be able to finish to task in a few weeks. Now that the work is completed we must admit that Neil had been humbled by the quantities of riches which were uncovered. The final catalogue includes more than 230 collections, Libraries and Archives in Greece which contain materials of value for music research or have music items of some special interest. But every library in Greece, almost without exception , has suffered from lack of adequate funding and staffing. Greece with its almost 400 years of subjugation to the Ottoman Turks prevented the normal intellectual development that occurred in other parts of Europe. Only since the Revolution of 1821 has Greece had the opportunity to catch up. Libraries were founded in the last century with generous gifts of books and funds from individuals or organizations, they have been able to build their collections in the past 60-70 years.

The treasures of value for music research in Greece, as well as contemporary music material, exist in every corner of the country, in many kinds of institutions, monasteries, public and municipal libraries, museums, radio collections and archives, intellectual, cultural and philharmonic societies, orchestras, folklore societies and archives, high schools, university libraries and collections and even in the libraries maintained in Athens and Thessaloniki by foreign institutions and governments. The National Library and the General State Archives, Academy of Sciences and Library of the Parliament in Athens, Greek Radio and Television Archives, University Music Libraries and Collections in Thessaloniki, Corfu, Athens, Arta and Heakleion, Music Library of Greece “Lilian Voudouri” in Athens, The State Conservatory of Thessaloniki and the Athens Conservatory, Museums such as the Delphoi Museum, Philarmonic Societies, mainly but not only, in the Ionian Islands, Monasteries in Mount Athos, Patmos and Lesvos isl. and elsewhere, Corfu Reading Society and Efxeinos Club in Naousa, public libraries in Siatista, Andritsaina, “Korais” in Chios and Corfu isl., Serres, Thessaloniki etc. all treasure rare music material as well strong collections of contemporary collections.

Aris Bazmadelis

https://iamlgreece.eu/uncategorized/ama-gr/
https://rism.online/search?q=greece&mode=institutions&page=1&rows=20