Athos (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Athos
Type = studio
Artist = Stephan Micus


Released = 1994
Recorded =
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Length =
Label = ECM
Producer =
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"Athos" is a 1994 album produced by Stephan Micus for ECM.

Based on a three-day visit to Mount Athos, in it Micus tries to capture his experiences with the Greek Orthodox liturgy he experienced in the monasteries there, framing it with pieces that evoke his emotions at going to and leaving the isolated peninsula. Between them he recreates the liturgical experience of the services during his stay, in six alternating pieces of night and day.

As in his other works, Micus uses a combination of traditional instruments from various cultures to capture the feel of the monastery. These include the "sattar" (a bowed 10-string instrument used by the Uyghur), the "shakuhachi" (a Japanese bamboo flute), the "suling" (a reed flute from Bali), the "ney" (a Middle Eastern flute), and even 22 flowerpots, filled with water, which he plays with his hands and with mallets. These instruments are only used in the pieces representing the days on Mount Athos.

To emulate the Greek Orthodox tradition of not using musical instruments in their services, his pieces devoted to the nights are performed by a 22-man choir singing prayers to the Virgin Mary.