Musical elements
Cretan music is marked by elements from the Venetian era, Byzantine music and influences from Asian Minor music.
There are characteristic and varied particularities from region to region, despite the common musical basis. However, each region has developed its own musical character. Thus, there is a variety of melodies/dances named after their place of origin. Cretan music, whether instrumental, vocal or a cappella, is mainly characterised by improvisation, combined with the virtuosity of each Cretan artist. Due to its diversity, it was difficult to record Cretan music as a whole, as each region and each artist has its own characteristics. The Cretan musical tradition is considered as one of the most vibrant forms of traditional music in Greece, as it is constantly evolving and incorporating contemporary musical elements.