Greek musical writings / edited by Andrew Barker.

Other author Barker, Andrew, 1943-2021, editor.
Format Book
Publication InfoCambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1984-1989.
Description2 volumes : illustrations ; 24 cm.
Subjects
Music, Greek and Roman--History and criticism. --Sources.
Music theory--To 500. --History and criticism. --Sources.
Music, Greek and Roman--Sources.
Music theory--To 500. --Sources.

SeriesCambridge readings in the literature of music
Cambridge readings in the literature of music. ^A127989
Contents v. 1. The musician and his art -- v. 2. Harmonic and acoustic theory.
Contents v. 1. Transliteration of Greek words -- Introduction -- Homer -- Hesiod -- The Homeric hymns -- From Archilochus to the late sixth century -- Pindar -- Fifth-century tragedy -- The musical revolution of the later fifth century -- Aristophanes -- Xenophon -- Plato ; Appendix A. The harmoniai ; Appendix B. Damon -- Aristotle -- The Hibeh papyrus on music -- Theophrastus -- The Aristotelian problems -- The plutarchian treatise on music -- Appendix A. The nomoi ; Appendix B. The spondeion and the spondeiazon tropos -- Athenaeus -- Appendix. Athenadus' sources.
Contents v. 2. Introduction -- Pythagoras and early Pythagoreanism ; Appendix. The scalar division of Archytas -- Plato -- Aristotle -- The Aristotelian Problemata -- The Peripatetic De Audibilibus -- Theophrastus -- Aristoxenus. Elementa Harmonica ; Appendix. Aristoxenus' Elementa Rhythmica Book II -- The Euclidean Sectio Canonis -- Minor authors quoted by Theon and Porphyry. Passages from Theon of Smyrna ; Passages from Porphyry -- Nicomachus. Enchiridion -- Ptolemy. Harmonics -- Aristides Quintilianus. De Musica -- Bibliography of works by modern authors.
Abstract These two volumes offer a selection of Greek writings on music, newly translated into English and equipped with an extensive commentary. Volume 1 contains passages from Greek poets, historians and essayists, evoking or describing aspects of the practical activities of musical performance and composition, together with excerpts from philosophers and social critics who comment on the moral, education and aesthetic dimensions of the art. Music was of fundamental importance in the culture of ancient Greece. Its nature and significance cannot now, perhaps, be fully recaptured, but we have a rich fund of information about the Greek experience of music, its forms, its meanings, its social roles, and the practical details of its composition and performance. Volume 2 contains important texts on harmonic and acoustic theory, illustrating the progress of these sciences from their beginnings in the sixth century BC over the subsequent thousand years. Writers represented include Philolaus, Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Aristoxenus, Ptolemy, Aristides, Archytas, and Quintilianus. All the Greek texts are newly translated by the editor. Some replace inadequate existing translations; other significant portions of the book include much that is essential for an understanding of medieval and Renaissance musicology. The author provides detailed and authoritative commentary and annotations to all the texts. Each section is prefaced by an introductory essay and some of the more complex issues are discussed further in appendices.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographies and indexes.
ISBN0521235936 (v.1)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML167 .G7 1984 V. 1 ✔ Available Place Hold
Music Music Stacks ML167 .G7 1984 V. 2 ✔ Available Place Hold