Classical Greece

Music is greatly influenced by the time period(s) it belongs.

Can you think of any examples of where events of certain time periods affected the music of

the times?

1960s

Vietnam War

Equal Rights (Racism)

Hippie Movement

Let’s visit Ancient Greece

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LET’S GET THIS IN PERSPECTIVE!!!

•Time? 800 B.C. – 400 A.D.

•Place? Ancient Greece

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YOU ARE

HERE

Greece is

WAY OVER HERE

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Classical GreeceIdeas?

• The Greeks believed that the universal idea of beauty could be attained by a great commitment to LOGIC, ORDER, REASON, AND

MODERATION.

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Who had the greatest influence on the Greek understanding of music?

SO…………..

Pythagoras (c. 569 B.C. – 475 B.C.)

Circa means “around”.

MUSIC THEORY BASED ON MATHEMATICAL

LOGIC.

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Who was Pythagoras?

• Philosopher – (The word, "philosopher," literally means

"lover of wisdom.”)

• He was one of the great thinkers of ancient Greece.

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• Mathematician – (a person skilled in mathematics) Known as the “Father of Numbers”.

Who was Pythagoras?

• He believed that mathematical laws governed all of life’s activities (including music).

• He was the man who came up with the Pythagorean Theory (for the RIGHT

TRIANGLE):

a2 + b2 = c2

Classical GreeceWho was Pythagoras?

Classical Greece

Classical Greece•Some accounts tell of

Pythagoras passing a blacksmith shop and hearing the different

tones created when hammers of differing weights struck anvils of

various sizes.

•Upon returning home, he experimented by striking hanging weights of a variety of sizes until

he found the combination of intervals that he determined were

pleasing to the ear.

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The effects of Pythagoras’ discovery of music:

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•Pythagoras eventually established an academy, the Order of the Pythagoreans, and one of their disciplines

was music.

•Greeks believed that music had the ability to heal those who were sick when no other treatments

worked.

•Greeks also believed that music had the ability to defeat

armies.

Classical GreeceDIFFICULTIES OF STUDYING ANCIENT DIFFICULTIES OF STUDYING ANCIENT

GREEK MUSICGREEK MUSIC

Musicians often improvised, leaving no printed music for scholars to study.

Composed pieces were passed down ORALLY.

Many written compositions were DESTROYED by the Christian church to get rid of PAGAN influences (religion that is not Christ

centered.) *Remember, the Greeks worshiped many gods.*

Music authorities disagree on how to interpret what Greek music they have found.

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Piece of Greek music.Modern Music

Classical GreeceHow was music used in Greek life?

Music was a part of the general education system. Aristotle and Plato both wrote about the importance of music that was essential to the complete education of

young scholars

Musicians entertained at:

social gatheringsathletic games (like the

OLYMPICS) recitation of poetrypart of religious rites

drama

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LYRE AULOS

IINNSSTTRRUUMMEENNTTSS

Many believe that Pythagoras committed suicide

because he was depressed after a rich man, who

had been denied entrance into the order, killed many of his students.

Sorry to end on a sad situation:

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