Electronic Precinct - July 1999

Mikis Theodorakis Collection

The Institute of Popular Music is proud to announce the arrival of an important donation of materials relating to the well known Greek composer and political activist, Mikis Theodorakis. The presentation was made by Mr Kostas Melitisolis, who has gathered scores, books, CD's and other important doc uments on Theodorakis. Kostas, a Greek national who has lived in Liverpool for the past 20 years, felt that he wanted to share something of his country's culture with the city.

The donation arose from the relationship that Mr Melitsiolis developed with the composer and has resulted in the materials being housed at the IPM. Dr. Philip Tagg, Reader in the Department of Music, was invited to the Greek National Music Library in December 1997 for a ceremony at which the archiv es of Theodorakis were officially transferred to the library. Both Mr Melitisolis and Dr Tagg had a meeting with Theodorakis who said that finding a reliable and prestigious Greek home for his materials had been considerably helped by the interest shown from such institutions as the IPM and Cornel l University, New York. The collection will join other donations such as the Robert Shelton Archive and Robert Pring-Mill Collection. The Institute currently has two Greek students and hopes that the collection will attract more students from Greece and further afield.

Members of the Institute of Popular Music thanked Mr Melitisolis for his kind donation and on behalf of the University expressed their gratitude for his support.