ATHENS, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Renowned Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis passed away on Thursday at the age of 96, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared three days of national mourning for the death of Theodorakis.

No cause of death has been announced yet. The artist had been hospitalized with heart problems in recent years.

Works of Theodorakis range from operas and orchestra symphonies to film scores and popular songs combining classical music with Greek folk instruments.

He was mostly recognized internationally as the composer of the syrtaki dance from the 1964 movie "Zorba the Greek," but had composed scores for many other films such as "Serpico" and "Z".

In addition, he composed many works based on poems written by major Greek poets as well as Federico Garcia Lorca and Pablo Neruda.

Theodorakis had served as an MP of the Greek Communist Party KKE in the 1980s and in the period 1990-1992 as Minister of State.

"We mourn today the loss of Mikis Theodorakis, a Greek and at the same time ecumenical artist, an invaluable asset of our musical culture," Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said in a message.

"He lived with passion, a life dedicated to music, the arts, our homeland and its people, dedicated to the ideas of freedom, justice, equality and social solidarity," she said. Enditem

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