Search - Ancient Greek Anonymous, Conrad Steinmann, Ensemble Melpomen :: Melpomen: Ancient Greek Music

CD-Hypothesis

Sergey Lenkov | Mother Russia | 02/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lyrics and the instruments on this record are authentic. Music is composed by Conrad Steinmann. So it is contemporary "newly imagined" music in Ancient Greek style.

His reconstruction based on 2 main sources: 1. careful re-creation of the instruments, which helps to understand playing techinc; 2. Ancient Greek language, because "Ancient Greek is subject to rhythmical rules that regulate the lengh of the syllables...[These rules were] reconciled with tonal order of the respective instrument".

The result of this re-construction could be described in one word - beautiful!

Arianna Savall (soprano) so beautifully sings well-known lyrics by Sappho ("He Seems to Me Like Unto Gods That Man Who Sits Opposite You", "Eros Shook My Heart") and Anacreon, Alcaios so you could buy this CD only to understand how beautiful and melodic was Ancient Greek language.

As example, many sources stated that verses by Sappho were sung and these songs seemed to Ancient Greeks very melodic, delicate and beautiful. And when you are reading modern translation or even original - you have to have great imagination to understand this musical aspect of the poetry.

Here you have original lyrics, English translation and the singing, so this CD could be a kind of the textbook for the student-historian of the Antiquty.

This CD-hypothesis could be also viewed not only as academic experiment but also as best CD of New Age World music in Ancient Greek style.

Well, and if you are decided to buy this CD, why not to listen to authenitic Ancient Greek music?

I highly recommend you CDs by ENSEMBLE DE ORGANOGRAPHIA "Music of Ancient Greeks" and "Music of the Ancient Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks" (North Pacific Music)!!!!



P.S. To compare different approaches to performance of the Antique music - try also European CDs - search the Web -

Annie Belis and Ensemble Kerylos "Ancient Greek Music" (label K617)

Musica Romana "Mesomedes" and "Symphonia Panica" (label Emmuty Records)

















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Inspired by ancient music more than a reconstruction

W. Major | Louisiana, USA | 12/16/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is interesting work, but not quite what one might expect. Other CD's of "Ancient Greek music" are attempts to play what scraps remain of written musical notation survives (more than a dozen such pieces are extant). This CD features music played by reconstructed instruments, but the compositions are fanciful. A few feature lyrics from archaic Greek poetry (Anacreon, Alcaeus, Sappho, Archilochus, Bacchylides and the Homeric Hymn to Sleep), but none tackle ancient musical compositions. That said, the music is pleasant, and if you want to hear what some of the instruments sound like, this is useful. But there's not much reason to think this is what ancient Greek MUSIC would have sounded like, more like later music played on ancient Greek instruments."

Outside the souvlaki box

lawjld | 08/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"not your "never on sunday" style music. some very unique sounds, melodies and chords. enjoy as you read the fagles' homer trnslations."