Did You Say Rebetiko? Musical Categories, Their Transformation, and Their Meanings

This article discusses the changes in denominations affecting Greek popular music Rebetiko during the twentieth century. It examines the terms “Smyrneïko” and “Pireotiko” Rebetiko and their meanings, following their formation, consolidation, and change through time. The accent is placed on the activity and results of categorization as a social process. Denominations’ displacements are detected through press articles. An analysis of the different terms used, the changes in musical creation, and venues completes the basic argument, that is musical categories mold social worlds.