The Modes of Ancient Greek MusicMonro, D. B. (David Binning)
History
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music
Monro, D. B. (David Binning)
Music, Greek and Roman
In estimating the value of this piece of evidence it is necessary to
remark, in the first place, that the authority is no longer that of
Aristoxenus, but of a certain Lysis, of whom nothing else seems to be
known. That he was later than Aristoxenus is made probable by his way
of describing the Mixo-lydian octave, viz. by reference to the notes
in the Perfect System by which it is exemplified (Hypatê Hypatôn to
Paramesê). In Aristoxenus, as we shall see (p. 31), the primitive
octave (from Hypatê to Nêtê) is the only scale the notes of which are
mentioned by name. But even if the notice is comparatively early, it
is worth observing that the Mixo-lydian scale thus ascribed to
Lamprocles consists of two tetrachords of the normal type, viz. with
the semitone or [Greek: pyknon] at the lower end of the scale
(Diatonic _e f g a_, Enharmonic _e e* f a_). The difference is that
they are conjunct, whereas in the primitive standard octave (_e - e_)
the tetrachords are disjunct (_e-a b-e_). This, however, is a variety
which is provided for by the tetrachord Synêmmenôn in the Perfect
System, and which may have been allowed in the less complete scales
of earlier times. In any case the existence of a scale of this
particular form does not prove that the octaves of other species were
recognised in the same way.
(2) In another passage (c. 6) Plutarch says of the ancient music of
the cithara that it was characterised by perfect simplicity. It was
not allowed, he tells us, to change the mode ([Greek: metapherein tas
harmonias]) or the rhythm: for in the primitive lyrical compositions
called 'Nomes' ([Greek: nomoi]) they preserved in each its proper
pitch ([Greek: tên oikeian tasin]). Here the word [Greek: tasis]
indicates that by [Greek: harmoniai] Plutarch (or the older author
from whom he was quoting) meant particular _keys_. This is fully
confirmed by the use of [Greek: tonos] in a passage a little further
on (c. 8), where Plutarch gives an account of an innovation in this
matter made by Sacadas of Argos (fl. 590 B.C.). 'There being three
keys ([Greek: tonoi]) in the time of Polymnastus and Sacadas, viz.
the Dorian, Phrygian and Lydian, it is said that Sacadas composed a
strophe in each of these keys, and taught the chorus to sing them,
the first in the Dorian, the second in the Phrygian, and the third in
the Lydian key: and this composition was called the "three-part Nome"
([Greek: nomos trimerês]) on account of the change of key.' In
Westphal's _Harmonik und Melopöie_ (ed. 1863, p. 76, cp. p. 62) he
explains this notice of the ancient modes ([Greek: harmoniai],
_Tonarten_), observing that the word [Greek: tonos] is there used
improperly for what the technical writers call [Greek: eidos tou dia
pasôn].
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