Stamatis Spanoudakis


Stamatis Spanoudakis is a modern Greek classical composer. In his early career, he studied classical guitar. He shifted to rock music, but then continued classical studies at the Würzburg State Conservatory with Bertold Hummel and later in Athens with Konstantinos Kydoniatis. Later, he studied Byzantine music. He has worked with various Greek singers, composing the music and writing the lyrics for a large number of hit songs. With his religious works, he has provided a very different perspective of contemporary byzantine music. He has also composed numerous soundtracks. Since 1994, he has exclusively composed instrumental music, such as music that embraces Greece's history and religion.

Biography

Stamatis Spanoudakis hails from an esteemed Greek family in Athens. His early fascination with music led him to pursue classical studies, specializing in guitar and theory. In the 1960s and 1970s, he immersed himself in the rock and pop scene, playing bass guitar and keyboards in various bands across Athens, Paris, and London. During this time, he also recorded his first albums.
Returning to his classical roots, Spanoudakis resumed his composition studies under the guidance of Professor Bertold Hummel in Würzburg and Professor Konstantinos Kydoniatis in Athens. A subsequent exploration of Byzantine music ignited his passion for Greek songwriting and instrumental compositions.
Today, Spanoudakis strives to seamlessly integrate his diverse musical influences—rock, classical, and Byzantine—into his work. He has penned numerous hit songs for renowned Greek musicians and composed scores for successful films, theater productions, and television programs in Greece, Germany, and Italy. With a discography exceeding sixty albums, his contributions to the music industry are extensive.
Since 1995, Spanoudakis has focused on instrumental music inspired by Greek historical and religious themes, garnering significant popularity in Greece. He currently resides in a suburb of Athens with his wife, Dori, and their four dogs. In his personal studio, Spanoudakis records, composes, arranges, produces, performs, and engineers his musical endeavors.

Discography

Album/CD titlePublished byYear
Beautiful Lies
Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis		Philips1971
Looking Back
Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis		Seagull1974
Promitheus
Original soundtrack from the film by Kostas Feris		Seagull1974
Colours of iris
Original soundtrack from the film by Nikos Panayiotopoulos		Seagull1975
To the first musician
A religious record with Stamatis and a vocal group of friends		Seagull1977
Let's listen together
Stories for children. Texts by Maria Goumenopoulou. Nαrrαted by Kostas Giannikos		Seagull1977
Nestor's company
Children's songs, with Nestor, Dori, Eva and Stamatis		Seagull1977
Nestor's dream
Children's songs, with Nestor, Dori and Stamatis		Seagull1978
Maran atha
Stamatis's first instrumental record		Seagull1978
Songs of love
Songs with Dimitris Tamposis and friends		Seagull1979
The garden with the statues
Music from the TV series of Pantelis Voulgaris		ΕΜΙ1980
The story teller
Music from the TV series of Nikos Pilavios		Seagull1980
The story teller ΙΙ
Music from the TV series of Nikos Pilavios		Seagull1981
Lord of the powers
A religious record with Giannis Koutras and Eleni Vitali		Lyra1981
Angel
Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Katakouzinos		Lyra1981
Dies Irae
A religious record with Michalis Dimitriades and Electra		Lyra1982
Sudden love
Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Tsemperopoulos		MINOS EMI1983
Something is happening here
The first collaboration of Stamatis with Vassilis Saleas. With Giannis Ekmektsoglou on electric guitar and Chiko on drums.
.		MINOS EMI1984
Seven prayers
A religious record with Eleni Vitali and children's choir		MINOS EMI1985
Senza tempo
Songs with Demi Roussos		Warner Music1985
Stone years
Original soundtrack from the film by Pantelis Voulgaris		Lyra1985
Contrabando
Songs with Eleutheria Arvanitaki. This was his first whole album, for a singer		Lyra1987
Absences
Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Katakouzinos		Lyra1987
On the way
Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis		Lyra1987
And we came into the years
Songs with Eleni Vitali		Columbia/ Sony Music1988
Two steps from the sand
Songs with Alkistis Protopsalti		Polygram1989
Tanirama
Songs with Eleutheria Arvanitaki		Polygram1989
Ping Pong
A rock record, with electric and acoustic guitars, synths and drums.		Polygram1989
Striker Number 9
Original soundtrack from the film by Pantelis Voulgaris Striker no 9		CBS1989
Third Day
A religious record with Manolis Mitsias and Vassilis Saleas		CBS1990
The dilemma
Songs with Petros Gaitanos		Polygram1990
Bye bye
Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Tsemperopoulos		Columbia/ Sony Music1991
I'm fine, thank you
Songs with Manolis Mitsias		Sony Music1991
Thalassa
.		Sony Music1992
Touch
Songs with Giannis Parios		Minos EMI1992
Where do you go when you sleep
Songs with Dori Spanoudakis		MINOS EMI1992
Iris / Promitheus / Maran atha
3 of the earlier instrumental and soundtracks, together in one record		Stam Studio1994
With words
A compilation of hit songs		Stam Studio1994
Alexandros
This album tells the tale of Alexander the Great		Stam Studio1994
Moments gone
.		Stam Studio1995
Holy Hour
An album filled with melodies of the Greek orthodox religious hymns as well as originals by the artist.
With Vassilis Saleas and Lefteris Zervas		Stam Studio1995
John's Tear
Music for the revelation of St. John		Stam Studio1996
Moments gone II
Contemporary musical arrangements		Stam Studio1996
The Marble King
A musical impression of Constantine Palaiologos, the last martyr Emperor of Constantinople. A tribute to Agia Sofia and the fall of his beloved city in 1453.		Stam Studio1998
All In A Journey
Original soundtrack of the film by Pantelis Voulgaris. It includes the saxophone and Greek lyra, accompanied by piano and contrabass.		Stam Studio1998
Facing the audience
A live performance of the best of Spanoudakis's works, performed by a string orchestra, a choir and an elite of soloists of traditional Greek instruments		Stam Studio1998
Nineteenhundredandninetynine
A musical journey honoring the year before the millennium		Stam Studio1999
Before the exhibition
A compilation of Stamatis's music made for artist's Vasiliki exhibition in Paris		Stam Studio2000
Moments gone III
.		Stam Studio2000
For Smyrni
The artist's musical perception of events that took place in Smyrni in the early twentieth century		Stam Studio2001
The Essential Collection
The absolute "Best of" Stamatis Spanoudakis's works. Digitally remastered all on a double CD album.		Stam Studio2002
Piece of my soul
A combination of children's voices and mixed teenage choir with Spyros Lambrou choir		Stam Studio2003
Music for films
A compilation of film themes		Stam Studio2004
Brides
Original soundtrack of the film "Brides". Directed by Pantelis Voulgaris and produced by Martin Scorsese. Includes traditional instruments and Byzantine voices.		Stam Studio2004
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Some of the best pieces of Stamatis Spanoudakis, performed live at the Royal Albert Hall by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the London Symphony Choir.		Stam Studio2006
Alexandros II
Performed by ERT Symphony Orchestra and Choir and Stamatis's band		Lyra2009
Live in China
Live recording in Beijing. Performed live by ERT Symphony Orchestra and Choir and Stamatis's band.		Stam Studio2009
Je veux toujours être avec toi
Various tracks with Dori Spanoudakis, in French		Stam Studio2011
Rejoice my sea
A blend of melodies children's voices, classical and ambient orchestrations, guitars, pianos and violins.		Stam Studio2013
Bathed in the sun
.		Stam Studio2016