The Sound of Ancient Greece Reconstructed
A musician and tutor in classics at Oxford University is bringing back to life the music of ancient Greece, unheard for thousands of years, using a combination of archaeology and historical documents.
Armand D’Angour has explained that in ancient Greece the classic texts and theatre used music – the epics of Homer, the love-poems of Sappho, the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides were all, originally, music.
These well-known classics, dating from around 750 to 400 BC were all composed to be sung in whole or part to the accompaniment of the lyre, reed-pipes, and percussion instruments. The instruments are known from descriptions, paintings and archaeological remains, which enables researchers to establish the timbres and range of pitches they produced.
As for the rhythm, the clue lies within the words themselves, in the patterns of long and short syllables. In addition, the researchers have gained an accurate indication of relative pitch by examining numerous ancient documents, found on stone in Greece and papyrus in Egypt, inscribed with a vocal notation devised around 450 BC, consisting of alphabetic letters and signs placed above the vowels of the Greek words.
One complete piece, inscribed on a marble column and dating from around 200 AD, is a short song of four lines composed by Seikilos. The notation is unequivocal and marks regular rhythmic beats. The words of the song may be translated:
While you’re alive, shine,
never let your mood decline.
We’ve a brief span of life to spend,
Time necessitates an end.
Dr David Creese of the University of Newcastle has reconstructed the Seikilos piece, playing a zither-like instrument, which you can listen to here. When he plays two versions of the Seikilos tune, the second immediately strikes us as exotic, more like Middle Eastern than Western music. The ancient rhythmical and melodic norms were quite different from our own.
Perhaps one day it will be possible to watch one of the ancient classic plays in its original form, accompanied by the rediscovered instruments and to hear the words once again in their proper setting as the Greeks had done thousands of years ago.
Source: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-general/sound-ancient-greece-reconstructed-00961
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,708,231,107 |
| Stories: | 8,449,805 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
