Antiquity Studies

Series | Antiquity Studies
Edited book | ΦΑΙΔΙΜΟΣ ΕΚΤΩΡ
Chapter | Una storia della musica e della lirica greca dalle origini al IV secolo a.C. nel De musica attribuito a Plutarco

Una storia della musica e della lirica greca dalle origini al IV secolo a.C. nel De musica attribuito a Plutarco

Abstract

Ps. Plutarch’s De musica is an important source for reconstructing the history of ancient Greek music and lyric poetry. It is sharply divided in two parts: the first one is the history of music and lyric poetry, from their mythical origins to the IV century BC; the second one is about the ethical and social function of musical education. The discussion of the first part is about the metrical and rhythmical structure of the pre-Homeric citharodic epic compared to verses of Stesichorus and Terpander; kitharōidikoi and aulōidikoi nomoi, Phrygian origin of aulōidia, musical schools in Sparta in relation to the poetic genres definition. Heraclides of Pontus provides the material for Chapters 3-12 (the main exception being Chapter 11, which is explicity credited to Aristoxenus). He indicates the Anagraphe en Sikyoni as his source about Amphion and the origin of kitharōidia. But the history of aulōidia is attributed to a different writer, Glaucus of Rhegium, who lived in the fifth century and is the earliest musical historian.


Open access

Submitted: May 17, 2021 | Accepted: June 23, 2021 | Published Dec. 16, 2021 | Language: it

Keywords Plutarch’s De musicaKitharōidiaHeraclides of PontusPsGlaucus of RhegiumAulōidia


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