Greek enharmonics

The New Oxford History of Music,part I is some interesting reading on ancient Greek and Arabic music,being unusually detailed in describing the different kinds of intonations used.There are some great diagrams of frettings for some kind of stringed instruments that i will try to analyze and perhaps compose something with later.

However the part on Greek music is somewhat confusing,while the Arabic pitch charts are measured in cents,the description of the Greek modes are given as 12-TET scales!Except for the enharmonic,which is described as a simple quarter tone,and from all other sources i heard the characteristic was that the smallest interval did NOT divide the larger into two equal parts,but rather there were three different intervals.

Surely that must have not been the case in practice.Did they choose the most convenient way of notation because there was such uncertainity about the absolute pitches used anyway?Either way,it holds some great writing on the forms and uses of music in these cultures,like a hilarious account on how enharmonic effects became"over-used"by some kithara players...well worth checking out.

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MATS �LJARE
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/oljare
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> From: Mats �ljare <oljare@hotmail.com>
> To: <tuning@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 5:04 PM
> Subject: [tuning] Greek enharmonics
>
>
> The New Oxford History of Music,part I is some interesting reading on
> ancient Greek and Arabic music,being unusually detailed in describing the
> different kinds of intonations used.There are some great diagrams of
> frettings for some kind of stringed instruments that i will try to analyze
> and perhaps compose something with later.
>
> However the part on Greek music is somewhat confusing,while the Arabic
pitch
> charts are measured in cents,the description of the Greek modes are given
as
> 12-TET scales!Except for the enharmonic,which is described as a simple
> quarter tone,and from all other sources i heard the characteristic was
that
> the smallest interval did NOT divide the larger into two equal parts,but
> rather there were three different intervals.
>
> Surely that must have not been the case in practice.Did they choose the
most
> convenient way of notation because there was such uncertainity about the
> absolute pitches used anyway?Either way,it holds some great writing on the
> forms and uses of music in these cultures,like a hilarious account on how
> enharmonic effects became"over-used"by some kithara players...well worth
> checking out.

Dear Mats,

I've done a lot of research and speculation on ancient Greek
musical notation. Unfortunately, the only part of it that
has been published so far is a small excerpt from my article
on Boethius's illustration of Greek notation, which appears
in my book.

I have two webpages which do touch on some of the subjects
you mention here:

Tutorial on Ancient Greek Tetrachord Theory
http://www.ixpres.com/interval/monzo/aristoxenus/tutorial.htm

The Measurement of Aristoxenus's Divisions of the Tetrachord
http://www.ixpres.com/interval/monzo/aristoxenus/318tet.htm

Please note that the Aristoxenus page is unfinished, does
not even touch on a new interpretation I've arrived at for
Aristoxenus's tetrachords, and badly needs editing.

Anyway, hope you find them useful. The Tutorial should
help answer many of your questions.

Concerning the bit about 'how enharmonic effects became
"over-used" by some kithara players', please see my
tuning list post of : Wed Dec 15, 1999 6:46 pm
/tuning/topicId_6865.html#6947

-monz
http://www.monz.org
"All roads lead to n^0"

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--- In tuning@y..., "Mats Öljare" <oljare@h...> wrote:
> The New Oxford History of Music,part I is some interesting reading
on
> ancient Greek and Arabic music,being unusually detailed in
describing the
> different kinds of intonations used.There are some great diagrams
of
> frettings for some kind of stringed instruments that i will try to
analyze
> and perhaps compose something with later.

Yes, I have this one (Volume I) and also Volume II (400 - 1300 CE).
Volume II has quite a section on Byzantine music, which is why I
bought it. I'm seriously considering springing for the volume that
covers the 20th century.

BTW, I'm gonna be a little scarce around these parts the next two
weeks. I'm trekking off on one of my other hobbies, which you can
read all about on my web site. Try not to have any major flame wars
while I'm gone, OK??
--
M. Edward (Ed) Borasky, Chief Scientist, Borasky Research
http://www.borasky-research.net http://www.aracnet.com/~znmeb
mailto:znmeb@borasky-research.com mailto:znmeb@aracnet.com

Stand-Up Comedy: Because Man Does Not Live By Dread Alone