More than the sirtaki: Mikis Theodorakis’s score for Zorba the Greek (1964)

The 1964 film Zorba the Greek is a landmark in Greek cinema and one of Greece's most successful cultural exports. The film follows the English writer, Basil, and his Greek employee, Zorba, as they attempt to reopen a mine on Crete. Mikis Theodorakis, the film’s composer, became known worldwide for his score and especially the music for Zorba’s dance, which accompanied the film’s most iconic scene and shaped international audiences’ perception of Greek culture. Zorba’s dance, that later came to be called the Sirtaki, is still frequently performed. However, Theodorakis's contributions to the film are not limited to his music for Zorba’s dance.

This study utilizes scholarship on Theodorakis, Zorba’s dance, and film music to explore more of the musical material in Zorba and contextualize this music. Above all, the thesis examines how Theodorakis integrates Greek musical elements while also adhering to the musical conventions of classical cinema. The film’s music underlines the main characters’ social positions and interactions, emphasizing the events that unfold during the film. The analysis identifies Theodorakis’s incorporation of Greek and Cretan musical elements, highlighting the score’s complexity and its engagement with Hollywood. While the Sirtaki is the film’s highlight, the rest of its music still merits attention for a detailed understanding of Theodorakis’s score.