All-time Greek classics in the first EU Songbook

An ambitious undertaking, the first "encyclopedia" of European songs, has come to fruition, giving us a fascinating record of what generations of people on this continent have been singing.

Released earlier this month, the European Union Songbook was created with input from more than 100 music organizations and schools and over 87,000 citizens from across the bloc, who voted on their favorite pieces in six categories: Freedom & Peace, Love Songs, Nature & Seasons, Folk Songs & Traditionals, Faith & Spirituality, and Children's Songs. The result is a list of six from each of the EU's 27 member-states, making for a total of 164 songs.

The six Greek airs that made it onto the list are three traditional songs, "S'agapo Gaiti 'sai Oraia," "Mes stou Aigaiou ta Nera" and "Pote tha Kanei Xasteria" in the Love, Nature & Seasons and Freedom & Peace categories, respectively, as...