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NAME (FIRST AND LAST!)__________________________
GRADE_________
PERIOD (T TH or W F and number)________
Writing Prompt—Ancient Music
This is a short written description of ancient music. Today we properly begin
our first music history unit! Today we will cover ancient Greek music.
Ancient Greece
The phrase “Ancient Greece” refers to the time period between the 8th century
B.C.E. and 600 C.E. in small states in the eastern Mediterranean area (see the map
above). The Greeks enjoyed a relatively peaceful and prosperous lifestyle. This
combined with a high for ancient times (you could life up to 70 or even more!) allowed
for the flourishing of art, philosophy, and music. Ancient Greece is where we get the
first two known pieces of notated music. These pieces are the Epitaph of Seikilos and
the Stasimon Chorus from the play Orestes. We are able to recreate this music today
because of the discovery of the Introducio Musica, which is a written work by Apylos
from the 5th century C.E. In this work, Apylos provides the information that scholars use
to translate ancient Greek musical notation into modern notation. Ancient Greek music
is mostly music of Drama. It follows a text and provides the listener with a
commentary on another person’s circumstances.
The Epitaph of Seikilos
The Epitaph of Seikilos is a short piece that is a musical Epigram (an Epigram is
a short poem that makes one main point). It is the first complete notated piece of music
that we have, being from the 1st Century C.E. We don’t know who wrote this piece,
because no composer is given credit on the music. The Epitaph of Seikilos was found
written on an Epitaph, which is an engraving on a gravestone. The poem tells the
reader to enjoy life, because everyone eventually passes away (like the person who had
the Epitaph written on their gravestone!).
The Stasimon Chorus from Orestes
The Stasimon Chorus, like its name suggests, is a Chorus, which is a piece of
music that is sung by a group during an ancient Greek play. This piece is the oldest
piece of music we have on record, being from about 400 B.C.E. The composer is almost
certainly Euripides, the same person who wrote the play itself (the play is called
Orestes). Things would happen during the Greek plays, and then the Chorus would
comment on what had just happened. Here, the main character, named Orestes, has just
experienced a great tragedy, and he has also committed a foolish action. The chorus is
singing about Orestes’ problems, and is asking the Greek Gods for mercy on Orestes.
Response Questions:
1. Look again at the end of the first section where the word Drama is bolded.
A: What does it mean if a piece of music is Drama? (write down what it says in
the sentence about drama in your own words)
B: What is the Epitaph of Seikilos commenting on? And what is the Stasimon
Chorus commenting on? Again, that commenting makes both pieces what kind
of music?
LISTENING QUESTIONS
2. Look at this chart. Write down the mood of both pieces as you hear them, and
describe the instruments from both pieces.
Epitaph
Chorus
Mood
/
Instruments
/
3. What instruments do both pieces have in common?
4. The Epitaph of Seikilos was found on a gravestone. Why is its mood happy and
not dark and intense?
5. Which piece do you like better? Give reasons why, using the words mood, and
instruments.