Ancient music

Ancient music is music that developed in literate cultures, replacing prehistoric music.

Related Topics:
Music - Culture - Prehistoric music

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The development of writing took place in different time periods in different geographic areas. The first examples of structured linear writing have been found in the lower Danube Valley and date from around 5000 BCE. The first examples of Sumerian writing in Mesopotamia date from around 4000 BCE. So this is when the era of ancient music began. In Europe it ended in 476 CE, and was followed by the Early music era of European classical music. For Arab music, ancient history ended in 622 CE.

Related Topics:
Writing - Linear writing - Danube - 5000 BCE - Sumer - Mesopotamia - 4000 BCE - Europe - 476 CE - Early music - European classical music - Arab music - Ancient history - 622 CE

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Very little remains of music from Ancient Greece or Rome. The epics of Homer and the lyrics of Sappho, for instance, were meant to be sung with instrumental accompaniment, but nothing remains of their scores. Fragments of Greek music are, however, extant, most notably scraps from tragedy (a choral song by Euripides for his Orestes and an instrumental intermezzo from Sophocles' Ajax), a few hymns by Mesomedes of Crete (2n century CE), and the Seikilos epitaph (dated variously between the 2nd century BCE and 1st century CE). Of Roman music, there remains but one meagre scrap: a line from Terence's Hecyra set to music by his composer Flaccus. All music of antiquity is monophonic, as polyphony is an invention of the Middle Ages.

Related Topics:
Ancient Greece - Rome - Epic - Homer - Lyrics - Sappho - Tragedy - Choral song - Euripides - Orestes - Instrumental - Intermezzo - Sophocles - Ajax - Hymn - Mesomedes - Crete - 2n century CE - Seikilos epitaph - Terence - Hecyra - Composer - Flaccus - Monophonic - Polyphony - Middle Ages

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The term "ancient music" may also refer to contemporary, but traditional or folk, music which is considered to continue its "ancient" style and includes much Asian music, Jewish music, Greek music, Roman music, the music of Mesopotamia, the music of Egypt, and Muslim music. See also: authentic performance.

Related Topics:
Folk - Asian music - Jewish music - Greek music - Roman music - Music of Mesopotamia - Music of Egypt - Muslim music - Authentic performance

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