Psyras Stratis

Place of birth: Agiasos, Lesvos

Year of birth: 1920

Nickname:
The initial name of his father was Viras, and Psyras was a nickname, which finally prevailed as a regular surname.
Afterwards, Stratis Psyras was given the nickname “Mouzou” -the name he, himself, had given to his dog. Later on, his son, Theophilos Psyras, inherited the same nickname: “Mouzou”.

Identity:
Professional organ player (santouri, violin, drums and harmonium. As a teacher of music, he taught the violin, santouri, drums and harmonium. He had also mastered the art of “beating” tunes in laternas.
This craft he learned from his godfather, who was called “Kourtsa”.

Parents:
His father and mother were from Agiasos. His father, Theophilos Psyras, was born at the beginning of the 1880 decade and died in the middle years of the 1960 decade. He was a practical musician -he played the santouri- and wanted Stratis to learn the violin so they could play music together.

The members of the Psyras family that worked professionally as musicians are:
Theophilos Psyras, Stratis’ father. An organ player who had learned by practice, he played the santouri at Agiasos.
Stratis Viras, Stratis’ grandson, son of Theophilos. He plays the santouri. He works as a professional musician, while he also helps his father as a carpenter.
(?) Psyras. Uncle of Stratis, brother of Theophilos’ father. A professional musician, he played the clarino.

Courses in space and time:
Stratis Psyras’ wife went to Mytilene in 1965, because their son was following there his studies. After a year and a half, Stratis Psyras followed her. He worked in Mytilene as a musician for seventeen years. Since the end of the 1960 decade he lives in Mytilene with his wife in his own house, and goes to Agiasos only two months in summer.

Musical apprenticeship:
Stratis Psyras followed lessons and was taught the violin by the music teacher Kleanthis Myrogiannis in Mytilene. Next, he learned little by little the santouri, which became his basic organ, all by himself. He also received lessons on theory by the musician Achilleas Sousamlis, at Agiasos.