Unit Two-Greek and Roman Music

A:

Step 2

Use the following guide to comment on the 6 listening examples A-E

Is this type of music new to you?

Ancient Greek music in general is new to me, but it did remind me of some of the Latin religious music I've heard before.

What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music?

Calm, but also slightly unsettled when the singer went into his lower register, I don't know why.

Tone color/Timbre (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc.)

The sound was very bright and ringing, but somehow didn't feel warm to me, I don't know if it was supposed to. The acoustics of the space also made it sound almost otherworldly.

Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc.)

This was a monophony, as there was only one person singing.

Your overall impression of the music of ancient times

A little eerie, but pretty.

B:

Step 2

Use the following guide to comment on the 6 listening examples A-E

Is this type of music new to you?

Yes, this type of music is new to me. Oh, wait, the end reminds me of Irish/Celtic music.

What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music?

Again, a little unsettled, the inconsistency of rhythm was really strange to listen to.

Tone color/Timbre (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc.)

Very ringing and bright. Kind of hollow, again the acoustics of the space added to the sound.

Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc.)

A homophony with the voice and the instrument, and then with the flute and the drum.

Your overall impression of the music of ancient times

I really liked the second half of this one. The beginning was much like letter A, except there was a woman singing. Overall, I liked the sound better on this one, less creepy.

C:

Step 2

Use the following guide to comment on the 6 listening examples A-E

Is this type of music new to you?

I've heard various string instruments, but I am new to the sound of a lyre.

What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music?

I liked it and could definitely see where this sound might've evolved into a guitar.

Tone color/Timbre (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc.)

This was a lot warmer, and bright, but also had a kind of echo and ring to it that came from the vibration of the strings.

Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc.)

A monophony of just the lyre.

Your overall impression of the music of ancient times

I liked this one, again, not super consistent rhythms, but quite upbeat, I imagine this at a feast.

D:

Step 2

Use the following guide to comment on the 6 listening examples A-E

Is this type of music new to you?

Kind of sounds like the bagpipes but VERY aggressive, so yes new to me.

What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music?

Um, wow, and kind of an ouch from the senses. Again, I can see how this sound may have evolved into bagpipes.

Tone color/Timbre (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc.)

Very ringing, I'm not sure how to describe this one, just very harsh. It does sound warm though.

Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc.)

Polyphony? I'm pretty sure there were more than two of these playing at once, although I can't be sure.

Your overall impression of the music of ancient times

Very interesting, not sure when this would get played. Sounds a little like a tangy foghorn. A bit jarring.

E:

Step 2

Use the following guide to comment on the 6 listening examples A-E

Is this type of music new to you?

I've heard music in similar styles I feel, but this is new to me.

What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music?

This is cool, I can imagine a dance to it.

Tone color/Timbre (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc.)

Ringing, kind of hollow, a little warm, a little brassy, kind of melancholy.

Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc.)

Polyphony; the drum with the multiple string instruments and the tiny bells.

Your overall impression of the music of ancient times

Interesting, I don't know if I would choose this as something to listen to regularly, but a cool experience nonetheless.

Epitath of Seikelos:

The letters of and symbols of the epitath could give clues to how it is supposed to sound
The symbols in between the rows of the letters could also give clues to the sound of the song

Euripides:

The letter type things probably could be notes
The symbols above the rows of letters could give more clues to the sound of the piece

From “Music In Antiquity”

What function(s)/purpose did music of Ancient Times serve?

Music was a facet of everyday life, used for both entertainment and practical purposes. Was used often in the military.

Why did pipers play during sacrifices?

They played at sacrifices to hide the noises of the animals dying.

Which instrument was used to signal retreat, attack and halt?

The tuba was used to signal retreat, attack, and halt, as well as to lend encouragement (I laughed inwardly imagining someone running around on a battlefield with a tuba).

Why were musicians left to play in camps after the army had departed?

They were left to fool the enemy into thinking that they were still there, either to avoid ambushes, or to keep their movements secret.

Whose teaching salary was the highest in the Asia Minor?

Music teachers had the highest salary in ancient Asia Minor.

What was a music teacher’s responsibility?

They had to play the music for the students because music was learned by ear in ancient times.

What’s up with Nero?

Nero really liked music, and was quite good at it, but was considered an ameteur because he had never been professionally taught. He did pose as a professional though. Nero was quite insecure with his music, in fact he hired 5,00 men to clap in four different ways at his performances. He also won many competitions, although it was unclear whether he won them through pure talent, or because the judges were afraid of being killed.

From “Outrageous Women of Ancient Times”

When was Sappho active?

Sappho was active around 600 B.C.E. (or B.C.).

What musical instrument/accessory did she invent?

She invented a smaller version of the lyre, and a pick for it, called a plectrum.

How many lyric poems did she compose?

She composed more than 500 lyric poems over the course of her life.

Describe her students and cult.

Sappho's students traveled from far and wide, sometimes from hundreds of miles away and overseas, to study with her. More than just being a teacher and students, they were more like an intimate group of friends who dearly loved each other (they could've loved each other romantically, but there isn't enough historical information to that claim). Sappho also led a cult of Aphrodite, which would travel to festivals around Lesbos to sing and dance in processions to shrines and temples. They would make offerings to the goddess at these festivals. The festivals took place in the spring and all unmarried women participated.

What were some of the ways she was worshipped even 1000 years after her death?

There was a huge market in Sappho head busts and full statues of her. Every educated person had books of her poems. The capital of Lesbos, Mytilene, used coins with Sappho's face on them for hundreds of years. There was also a huge market in a "Sappho the poet" likeness, which could be engraved onto gems, or painted on walls or vases.

What about her writings made the Christians ‘anxious’?

Sappho's writings were thought to be "pagan," and her raw honesty about passion and love in her poems were seen as bad examples for Christians.

When & where were some of her poems discovered?

Some of Sappho's poems were found in the 20th century in a thousand year old garbage dump in Egypt.

From “The State of Music at the End of the Ancient World”

Where did the history of Western art music begin?

The history of Western art music began in the Christian Church.

Why did Roman musical traditions ‘disappear’ at the beginning of the Middle Ages?

Middle Age musicians didn't know ancient Greek or Roman music, so the whole practice fell apart. Also, the Church did not approve the way that music was used in Rome, especially at parties and festivals. To them, Roman music represented the paganism that they were trying to destroy.

What attitude did Greek mythology display toward music and music makers?

The Greeks thought that music had a divine origin. They believed that music could heal sickness, purify the body and mind, and work miracles in the realm of nature (similar sentiments are seen in the old testament).

How did Aristotle react to the complexity of music festivals and competitions?

Aristotle did not approve of the rapid spread of music, and thought that there should be limits to the amount of professional training in general music education.

What does monophonic music sound like?

Monophonic music is either one instrument or one person singing at a time. There is not accompaniment with the single performer.

Why is the Epitaph of Seikelos of particular interest to music historians?

It is so interesting to historians because it has a clear rhythmic notation.

How many notes survived the Euripides papyrus?

Forty two notes of the Euripides papyrus survived over time, but there are still many of them missing.

Why did the early Christian Church distrust all instrumental music?

The Christian Church distrusted all instrumental music because they did not believe that it could spread the message of God. Instrumental music also reminded them of the pagan past of unrestrained lust, feasts, and festivals, which did not align with the ideals that they were trying to set.

What type of singing is the earliest recorded musical activity of the Christian Church?

Hymn singing is the earliest recorded musical activity of the Christian Church.

How did Byzantine musical practices impact western chant?

It gave western chant the classification of the repertory into 8 modes and a number of Byzantine chants spread throughout western culture.

Who is ‘Gregorian Chant’ named after?

It is named after Pope Gregory I, also known as Saint Gregory the Great.

What language replaced Greek as the ‘official language of the Roman liturgy?

Latin replaced Greek as the official language and liturgy of Rome in the 4th century.

List a few of the jobs required of a monastic cantor?

The monastic cantor maintained the library and scriptorium, as well as directed the performance of the liturgy. Later on, there were papal choirs, and, eventually, a Schola Cantorum, which was a specific group of singers and teachers tasked with the training of boys and men as church musicians.

Who was allowed to play the lyre to accompany hymn singing and psalms?

Only those who were faithful were allowed to use lyres to accompany hymn singing and psalms.

What role did the Christian missionaries play in developing Western music?

They broke it down and simplified it, with the Gregorian chant as its root. It is said that since the Church was trying to be overly organized to avoid the perceived chaos of the pagan religion they had left, they didn't have time for frivolity.

Who was Boethius? Describe one of his ideas about music.

Boethius was a 5th-6th century philosopher who wrote a book called the Fundamentals of Music in the early 6th century. He split music into three categories. Here is one of them: Musica Mundana or "cosmic music" was his perception of the orderly numerical relations seen in the movements of the planets, the changing of the seasons, and the elements. Essentially, it was the idea of harmony in the macrocosm. Boethius also viewed music as an object of knowledge rather than a creative act or expression of feeling.

Aural Assessment

Describe musical elements from “Sappho’s Marriage Celebration”(A)

Played with an aulos, long notes mixed with short ones that change pitch more often than the long ones. Mostly higher pitches. Monophony with spoken poem(?) behind it. A happier sound.

What musical elements are present in ‘Euripides’ ?(B)

Played with lyre or kithara, had percussion elements to it (not present in the original?). Multiple people singing, but all the same part, in different octaves. Mostly lower pitches, slow tempo. An ominous sound. Kind of a homophony because there were vocals with the lyre behind it, but there were also monophonic spots where just the lyre was playing.

What musical elements are present in ‘Epitath of Seikelos’?(C)

Happier sound. Played on a lyre. Mixture of different notes at same time on different strings. More higher pitches than low. Staccato. Fast tempo. Some parts played with lyre pick. This was a monophony.

What are the differences in how these three pieces sound?(ABC)

Out of the three pieces, there are three different instruments being used, there were two featuring the lyre (and drums) and one featuring the aulos. The ones with the lyres were very different in that they had vastly different tones. The "Euripides" one had a very somber tone while the "Epitath of Seikelos" had a happy tone. In addition to tones, "Euripides" had a much slower tempo and the "Epitath" had a faster one. "Sappho's marriage" was different from both of them in terms of instruments, as it was played with an aulos. It had a similar tempo and tone to the "Epitath" but had a very different tempo and tone to "Euripides." "Euripdes" was also the only piece that incorporated vocal singing.

Overall, how does the music of ancient times make you feel?(ABC)

Ancient music makes me feel a range of emotions really. Each of the sounds are very unique, but beautiful in their own way. I will say I was more put at unease from the "Euripides" piece, but I think that was the intent. I admire the simplicity of the one instrument, and I feel as though that brings a certain serenity to the act of playing.

If given the chance, which instrument would you run and hide from? Why?(ABC)

I don't think that I would run from any of them. The higher pitched, double piped aulos kind of bothers me, but I like the sounds of the single piped or lower ones.

If you were to play an instrument from this time period, what would you choose? Why?(ABC)

I would probably pick a lyre because not only would it be cool, but it is similar to a modern guitar and I would like to learn the guitar.

Use resources of your own choosing to provide an over view of music in Ancient China & Ancient India

Chinese music dates back to the beginning of Chinese civilization, but Chinese myth says that music came from Ling Lun, who made 12 bamboo pipes to match the sounds of bird song. This was said to have happened in 1,000 B.C., although there was a well developed music culture in China as early as the Zhou Dynasty, which came into power in 1,122 B.C. Chinese myth says that there was also the discovery of something called the "foundation tone" which, in addition to being the a musical note of a specific pitch, also had political implications; since each dynasty was believed to possess its own "proper pitch." The Imperial Music Bureau was established during the Qin Dynasty, which was in power between 221 and 07 B.C. Development of music after the Emperor Han Wu Di (140-87) had a strong foreign influence, especially from Central Asia. The oldest known written music is the Youlan or the Solitary Orchid which was attributed to Confucius. The world's oldest playable flute was found in China and is believed to be 9,000 years old. It was made of the hollow bone of a bird and had seven holes. Musicians were seen as lower on the social ladder than painters, but music was still seen as central to the harmony and longevity of the state; in fact, most emperors sent officers throughout China to collect popular folk songs from the people. Music in Ancient China was used for pleasure, entertainment, religious ceremonies, announcements, dance, and ot match or blend with the sounds of nature. The Chinese were the first to categorize instruments. There were eight categories to divide instruments into, and were based on the material the instrument was made out of. These instrument categories were: Silk, Bamboo, Hide, Clay, Gourd, Metal, Stone, and Wood. Many of these categories are still used today in China. Silk instruments had strings, because string was made of silk, Bamboo made woodwinds, and so on and so forth. Some of the most notable instruments are: the luo: a mounted gong with a padded stick that it used to hit the gong in various places with various strengths in order to create different pitches, the pipa: a pear shaped lute which was taken from Central Asia, the qin: a stringed instrument like a zither, and the erhu: a 2 stringed instrument with a bow that was also inspired by Central Asian musical instruments.

Music in India traces back to the Vedic period (1500-500 B.C.) but it did not become fully developed until much later. The Ancient Period of Indian music starts in the Vedic period and extends all the way to the 8th century A.D. There is evidence of Ancient Indians using rocks as instruments in rituals, these rocks were discovered in Southern India. In addition to the rock instruments, archeological digs found musical instrument in India dating back to the prehistoric period. As with most civilizations, music really began with vocals. The idea of the 4 elements (earth, water, wind, and fire) formed the elements of how both speech and music evolved in India. The act of singing was believed to be so enjoyable because it was the atman or soul speaking through the body out of its intention. This concept was the basis for the origin of vocal music in India. Indian classical music (which didn't fully evolve until the 14th or 15th century) is called Shastreeya Sangeeta, which means that it adheres to certain rules and principles. It was believed that music made a man into a Jeevanmukta or a liberated soul. The ultimate goal of Indian music was to unify the Jeevatma (soul) and the Paramatma (God), and much of Indian music emphasizes morals through art. Music was called Naada Yoga in Indian scriptures. The Naada sound gave rise to sruti's (mirco-tones), which evolved to swaras (notes), which then became raagas or melody. There were 2 varieties of Naada: 1) Aahata Naada: which was heard with conscious efforts of man and 2) Anaahata Naada: (often referred to as the music of the spheres) which is heard without the man's effort and was only audible to yogis. Music in the Ancient Period was a sacred and religious form; ancient scripture says that Sangeeta (music) and Saahitya (literature) make up the two breasts of the Hindu goddess Saraswati. The Indus valley had multiple sites of archeological significance that suggested that music was an important part of their culture. Several musical instruments like drums and statuettes representing dancing poses were found in these sites, as well as various types of stringed instruments. Also in the Indus valley, was the discovery of a 7 holed flute called Ravanahatha, which is yet another artifact that suggests that music was important in that culture. The Ancient Indian instruments are as follows: Sarod, Veena, Sarangi, Tambora, Bansi, Harmonium, Ghata, Tabla, Tanpura, and Sitar. Indian musical instruments require specialized material and craftsmanship for their manufacture, even today, which is why the transmission of Indian music to other people and cultures is so difficult. Both the flute (bansi) and the violin (variation of the veena) are believed to have Indian origin. Modern instruments such as the tambourin and the tambour are adaptations of the Indian Tambora and Tanpura.

Ancient Indian music is very much centered around drum beats, and the other instruments accentuate the drums, while in Chinese music there aren't really any drums, and there's usually only one instrument playing at a time. When there is more than one instrument playing, they are usually at different pitches, but have the same tone as the instrument that is standing out more. Both kinds of music have variations of the flute, as well as stringed instruments, but there are more stringed instruments heard in Ancient Chinese music than there are in Ancient Indian music, at least the songs that I listened to. They are both very different from Ancient Greek and Roman music, although the idea of flute-like instruments and stringed instruments being primarily used are the same.

I used this link for Chinese music and this one for the Indian music. They are long, but have many different songs from each culture.