The Athens Garrison Military Band

The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments “Fivos Anoyanakis” – Centre for Ethnomusicology participates in the celebration of the European Heritage Days 2025, under the theme “Architectural Heritage: Bridging the Past and the Future”, with the commemorative concert:

The Athens Garrison Military Band
A History of Musical Service … Since the Days of Lassanis
200 Years of Military Music

This event honours the social and cultural contribution of military musicians and connects us in multiple ways with the history of the city, the building that houses the Museum, the life of its first owner, the scholar, military officer and statesman from Kozani, Georgios Lassanis, as well as the Museum’s collections. In this way, it brings together musical heritage, history and the architectural heritage of the city.

Georgios Lassanis was the man who built his mansion in Plaka, known as the Lassanis House, during the early years of King Otto’s reign, around 1840. This building, a representative example of an Athenian residence from the Ottonian period, now houses the Museum. Lassanis himself had a distinguished military and political career: he was a member of the Filiki Etaireia, a member of the Sacred Band, a veteran of the Greek War of Independence, and later held several important positions in the newly established Greek state, including that of Secretary General of the Ministry of Military Affairs.

The event forms part of the Museum’s programme series Musical Villages in the City (2024–2025), which seeks to highlight aspects of everyday musical life in the city and explore the ways in which musical heritage evolves and is transmitted within the urban environment through the activities of musical communities.

In this context, military bands constitute musical communities with a long history, significant activity and enduring contribution. In particular, the Athens Garrison Military Band, which celebrates 200 years of continuous musical presence this year, has participated in major moments of modern Greek history, including the 3 September 1843 Revolution, the 1896 Olympic Games, the Asia Minor Campaign, and the Albanian Front, among many others.

Moreover, the Band’s regular performances in prominent locations throughout Athens, dating back to the earliest decades of the Greek state, became an important part of the city’s cultural life and significantly influenced the musical tastes and aesthetic preferences of its residents.

During this commemorative concert, the Wind Ensemble of the Athens Garrison Military Band (SMS/ASDYS) will perform marches and patriotic songs associated with important historical moments in the history of Hellenism. In the second part of the programme, the Traditional Ensemble of the Athens Garrison Military Band will take audiences on a musical journey through the islands of the Aegean Archipelago.

The programme offers a representative glimpse into a rich musical tradition shaped by diverse influences and origins.

Advance registration is required:

• by telephone at +30 210 3254129 (Monday–Friday, 09:00–15:00), or
• through the more.com platform by obtaining a free admission voucher.

For further information, please consult the digital programme Musical Villages in the City (pp. 16–18).

The event is supported by Bodossaki Lectures on Demand (BLOD), the Bodossaki Foundation’s online lecture library.