The Greek and Roman cultures of classical antiquity have left an indelible mark on European society.The Greek 'muse' is the origin of our concept of 'music', and ancient Greek culture included concert performances with a listening audience, hundreds of years before the rest of the continent.This fifth and final volume in Delphian's landmark collaboration with the European Music Archaeology Project includes pieces based on fragments of musical notation, found by archaeologists carved into stone or written on papyrus and dated to between 300 BC and 300 AD, as well as new music created to give a contemporary voice to the instruments of the period. Reconstructed by experts drawing on the latest archaeological research, these include the aulos a double-reed instrument played in pairs and often depicted as belonging to the retinue of the god Dionysus and the hydraulis, or Roman water organ.
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Soundworlds of Antiquity
To hear the music of Ancient Greece is always a little miracle for me as a listener. We can read so much about music of Ancient Greece in the works by Plato or in the lyrics by Greek poets, we can imagine so much and we can hear so little... Some notated fragments which came down to us through the ages. It's not the first attempt to re-create the music of Ancient Greeks. There were impressive records by Atrium Musicae De Madrid, Ensemble De Organographia, Kerylos Ensemble, Ensemble Melpomen...What's interesting here?Producer of the record Rupert Till modelled acoustics of Hellenistic theater (Pathos, Cyprus) on computer and recorded the ancient instruments within this modelled ambience - so it's very impressive if you are listening to this music in the headphones. Sound is very clear and creates 3 D feeling. The music is performed on reconstructed ancient instruments - hydraulis (water organ), auloses, plagiaulos, Etruscan lituus, lyre, cymballs.General impressions from the album are mixed. Our modern ear is well-adjusted to the sound of organ so all fragments which are peformed on hydraulis by Justus Willberg are enjoyable, atmospheric and impressive. Mainly it's variations on the themes from Bellermann. Well, I believe that music like this were played by Ancient Greeks and Romans.As to main part of the fragments which are performed on auloses, plagiaulos and the Etruscan lituus - you have to be quite a patient listener. Sometimes it's nearly painful experience. Did Ancient Greeks like such sounds? Who knows? The musicians are giving you the possibility, the hypothesis of Antique sound. You may like it or not.The programme on this CD starts with pleasant voice by Stef Conner who sings "Invocation to the Muse" by Mesomedes and it's beautiful. Famous Delphic Paean performed with Louvre aulos is the song which is nearly destroyed as a listening experience here. Approaches by Atrium Musicae De Madrid, Ensemble Kerylos, Ensemble De Organographia to performance of this song are much more impressive and convincing for me.What's interesting - the music of auloses is becoming enjoyable closer to the end of the CD when musicians are playing variations on Armenian folk tune. Living musical tradition of the real modern ethnos. May be it hints how Ancient Greek music should be performed? Could they be so different from us?In CD booklet you will read the story of the record, you will see the photos of the istruments. Also there's lyrics of the songs in English and in Greek - could be helpful for those who are studing Ancient Greek language. So in general "Apollo & Dionysus" is VERY INTERESING release with its own ups and downs, pros and cons.Much thanks for Delphian Records, European Music Archaeology Project and to Rupert Till for making this record possible!
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