Re: Timotheus-a microtonalist

In "Greek Musical Writings" (Cambridge University Press 1984, p. 95) Andrew
Barker argues persuasively for Timotheus adding new tones to his instrument.
I quote below the relative material.

"Of all the new-wave composers, Timotheus of Miletus is the most important.
Hence in the Pherecrates fragment he is treated as by far the worst of the
dreadful moderns, the chief torturer of music. He was a defiantly
self-conscious innovator; the following quotation sets out his principal
boast:"

And then Timotheus is quoted by Barker. "I do not sing the old songs, for my
new ones are better." Barker describes how Timotheus was encouraged early on
by Euripides.

The previously mentioned Pherecrates fragment, accuses Timotheus of "pulling
out winding exharmonic ant-paths" at an absurdly high pitch, and of filling
the whole of music with kampai, like caterpillars in a cabbage." Barker
asserts "it is again clear that the object of Tomotheus' innovations was to
produce music that was emotional, dramtatic, highly coloured and ornately
decorated, in contrast with the 'grave simplicity' of the past."

Johnny Reinhard
AFMM

Go Timotheus! Enharmonic or bust!

Afmmjr@aol.com wrote:

> From: Afmmjr@aol.com
>
>
>
> "Of all the new-wave composers, Timotheus of Miletus is the most important.
> Hence in the Pherecrates fragment he is treated as by far the worst of the
> dreadful moderns, the chief torturer of music. He was a defiantly
> self-conscious innovator; the following quotation sets out his principal
> boast:"
>
> And then Timotheus is quoted by Barker. "I do not sing the old songs, for my
> new ones are better." Barker describes how Timotheus was encouraged early on
> by Euripides.
>
> Barker
> asserts "it is again clear that the object of Tomotheus' innovations was to
> produce music that was emotional, dramtatic, highly coloured and ornately
> decorated, in contrast with the 'grave simplicity' of the past."
>
>

-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
http://www.anaphoria.com

> [Kraig Grady, TD 446.20, responding to Johnny Reinhard]
>
> Go Timotheus! Enharmonic or bust!

But I made it clear in my postings of a few days ago
[TD 440.9 & 10] that the enharmonic genus was the one
which was used in the *ancient* style, the one which had
general social approval, and the one which Timotheus
was accused of distorting. Check the Archives.

-monz

Joseph L. Monzo Philadelphia monz@juno.com
http://www.ixpres.com/interval/monzo/homepage.html
|"...I had broken thru the lattice barrier..."|
| - Erv Wilson |
--------------------------------------------------

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