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Roman Music
By: Jay Weber and Graham Alme
Buccina
1. A brass instrument used by the Roman Army to signal
commands.
2.The instrument was made of a tube measuring 11 to 12 feet.
3. The mouthpiece is shaped like a cup and there is a bar that
runs across the instrument that steadies it so the person
playing can hold it still.
4. This instrument is the "ancestor" of the trumpet and the
trombone.
5. The Buccina was also used by shepherds to herd their sheep
and keep them in a group.
Lyre
The lyre is a part of the zither
family of instruments. It was
ordinarily strummed by a
plectrum (similar to a guitar
pick) rather than being
plucked like a harp. The most
common numbers of strings
are four, seven, and ten.
Free fingers held the strings
that weren't wanted in the
harmony or the note. In the
zither instrument family which
was similar to a lute and a
guitar too.
Sambuca
A large harp is placed on
the ground and
played. Usually is much
larger than the person playing
it. The picture here is a
generally smaller Sambuca
compared to others that were
almost twice the size!
Another instrument that is
alike to the Sambuca is the
Trigonum which is just like it
except it is much smaller and
can be held in the hand and
played.
Hydralis (water organ)
A type of organ blown by air
where the power source
pushing the air is derived by
water from a natural source.
The water organ is similar to
the barrel organ which is
powered by the same type of
natural water source.
Kithara
The Kithara is very similar to a guitar or lyre. Had the
sounding box of an acoustic guitar but was much deeper and
had a much deeper sound. The strings were attached from a
rod at the top of the wooden ribs. The Kithara was played like
a harp, but it was used to play rhapsodies and melodies.
Aulos
Consisted of two double- reed
pipes, not joined but usually
played with a mouth- band to
hold both pipes between the
player's lips.
Roman Concerts
Concerts were held in large amphitheaters. The sound of
the music echoed throughout the stadium or theater. But
concerts were rarely held in a large place. The only people
who could afford to go to a concert were very rich. So the
people who would go to a concert held smaller concerts inside
their homes. They might invite a small group of people over but
it was a private event. Large events were held in the Coliseum
but very rarely would a concert be held in a structure that
large.
Roman Amphitheaters
Ancient roman amphitheaters were the meeting place for
gladiator fights, banquets, festivals, and concerts. Music
was played at everyone of these events, especially during
gladiator fights to excite the crowd, gladiators, and the
surrounding atmosphere.