Thiaboli

A cane cut at an angle, a wooden plug (the "svovoli"), six or seven holes and the player's breath: put simply, that is the thiaboli, the flute with which Cretans accompanied themselves at gatherings, in songs and in small groups. Fragile yet warm, its sound enchants, recalls and renews the musical traditions of Crete in the minds of its listeners. However, the weaknesses of its material (usually cane) and its empirical way of making did not allow the instrument to develop, and its expressive range remained limited. Its use therefore declined over time, and with it the memory of its sound among Cretans. Unlike the thiaboli, the lyra and the lute developed and became popular throughout the 20th century.