Greek Musical Writings: Volume 2, Harmonic and Acoustic Theory

A second volume of Greek Musical Writings containing important texts on harmonic and acoustic theory.

Andrew Barker (Edited by)

9780521616973, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 16 December 2004

592 pages
23 x 15.3 x 4 cm, 0.893 kg

This second volume of Greek Musical Writings contains important texts on harmonic and acoustic theory, illustrating the progress of these sciences from their beginnings in the sixth century BC over the subsequent thousand years. Writers represented include Philolaus, Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Aristoxenus, Ptolemy, Aristides, Archytas, and Quintilianus. All the Greek texts are newly translated by the editor. Some replace inadequate existing translations; other significant portions of the book include much that is essential for an understanding of medieval and Renaissance musicology. Dr Barker provides detailed and authoritative commentary and annotations to all the texts. Each section is prefaced by an introductory essay and some of the more complex issues are discussed further in appendices.

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations, texts and typographic conventions
Introduction
1. Pythagoras and Early Pythagoreanism
Appendix: the scalar Divisions of Archytas
2. Plato
3. Aristotle
4. The Aristotelian Problemata
5. The Peripatetic De Audibilibus
6. Theophrastus
7. Aristoxenus Elementa Harmonica
Book I
Book II
Book III
Appendix: Aristoxenus' Elementa Rhythmica Book II
8. The Euclidean Sectio Canonis
9. Minor authors quoted by Theon and Porphyry
Passages from Theon of Smyrna
Passages from Porphyry
10. Nicomachus Enchiridion
11. Ptolemy Harmonicas
Book I
Book II
Appendix to Book II
Book III
12. Aristides Quintilianus De Musica
Book I
Book II
Book III
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Medieval & Renaissance music [c 1000 to c 1600 AVGC2]