Kemençeci Vasil (1845-1907)

A Rum from Silivri, possibly of Roma descent, Vasilakis is regarded as the greatest kemençe (lyra) virtuoso after Tanburi Cemil Bey. His first steps in music were on the clarinet, performing at festivals and celebrations accompanied by percussion. He later learned the lyra from a musician named Giorgis from Phanar (Fener). By 1870, he had settled in Istanbul. In the cafés of Galata, he met Antonis (see Antonis Kyriazidis / Lavtacı Andon) and joined his ensemble as a second lyra player, alongside Nikolakis (see Nikolakis / Nikolaki Efendi). Yiannis Kyriazidis used to say that Vasilakis mastered in two years what had taken him twenty to learn. His growing reputation made him highly sought after among the court circles and music-loving officials. Vasilakis also played a key role in elevating the lyra from an instrument of the kabasaz popular music orchestras to a recognized instrument within Ottoman urban music ensembles. His most famous student, the composer and musician Tanburi Cemil Bey, brought further technical mastery and refinement to the instrument. Though Vasilakis composed only a few pieces, they are highly regarded, and he was also a maker of lyras. Among his students was Anastasios Leontaridis, father of Paraschos and Lambros Leontaridis, both of whom worked as musicians in music cafés, taverns, and later in radio broadcasting.