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
The inquiry has now reached a stage at which we may stop to consider
what result has been reached, especially in regard to the question
whether the two words [Greek: harmonia] and [Greek: tonos] denote two
sets of musical forms, or are merely two different names for the same
thing. The latter alternative appears to be supported by several
considerations.
1. From various passages, especially in Plato and Aristotle, it has
been shown that the modes anciently called [Greek: harmoniai]
differed in pitch, and that this difference in pitch was regarded as
the chief source of the peculiar ethical character of the modes.
2. The list of [Greek: harmoniai] as gathered from the writers who
treat of them, viz. Plato, Aristotle, and Heraclides Ponticus, is
substantially the same as the list of [Greek: tonoi] described by
Aristoxenus (p. 18): and moreover, there is an agreement in detail
between the two lists which cannot be purely accidental. Thus
Heraclides says that certain people had found out a new [Greek:
harmonia], the Hypo-phrygian; and Aristoxenus speaks of the
Hypo-phrygian [Greek: tonos] as a comparatively new one. Again, the
account which Aristoxenus gives of the Hypo-dorian [Greek: tonos] as
a key immediately below the Dorian agrees with what Heraclides says
of the Hypo-dorian [Greek: harmonia], and also with the mention of
Hypo-dorian and Hypo-phrygian (but not Hypo-lydian) in the
Aristotelian _Problems_. Once more, the absence of Ionian from the
list of [Greek: tonoi] in Aristoxenus is an exception which proves
the rule: since the name of the Ionian [Greek: harmonia] is similarly
absent from Aristotle.
3. The usage of the words [Greek: harmonia] and [Greek: tonos] is
never such as to suggest that they refer to different things. In the
earlier writers, down to and including Aristotle, [Greek: harmonia]
is used, never [Greek: tonos]. In Aristoxenus and his school we find
[Greek: tonos], and in later writers [Greek: tropos], but not [Greek:
harmonia]. The few writers (such as Plutarch) who use both [Greek:
tonos] and [Greek: harmonia] do not observe any consistent
distinction between them. Those who (like Westphal) believe that
there was a distinction, are obliged to admit that [Greek: harmonia]
is occasionally used for [Greek: tonos] and conversely.
4. If a series of names such as Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian and the rest
were applied to two sets of things so distinct from each other, and
at the same time so important in the practice of music, as what we
now call modes and keys, it is incredible that there should be no
trace of the double usage. Yet our authors show no sense even of
possible ambiguity. Indeed, they seem to prefer, in referring to
modes or keys, to use the adverbial forms [Greek: dôristi], [Greek:
phrygisti], &c., or the neuter [Greek: ta dôria], [Greek: ta
phrygia], &c., where there is nothing to show whether 'mode' or
'key,' [Greek: harmonia] or [Greek: tonos], is intended.
§ 15. _The Systems of Greek Music._
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