Music of the Ionian Islands

Folk music of the Ionian Islands is largely based on the western European style.

It is dominant the use of guitars and mandolins, while the kantadhes (romantic serenades from the Ionian Islands) are very popular.

The island of Zakynthos has a diverse musical history with influences from Crete.

The Church music of the islands is also different from the rest of Greece's, with much western and Catholic influences on the Byzantine Rite.

Some notable composers of the classical Ionian School are Nikolaos Mantzaros, Dionysios Lavrangas and Nikos Hatziapostolou.