Hearing ancient sounds through modern ears

Abstract

Sufficient evidence exists for us to hear with reasonable accuracy some of the rhythms, melodies and timbres of ancient Greek music. But even if we were to reconstruct a body of sound that faithfully represented Greek musical expression, could we really appreciate the kinds of effect this would have created in the ears of ancient hearers? One way to do so might be to match what ancient authors say about the effects of music with specific musical sounds (harmonies, rhythms, etc.) that we can recreate. This chapter examines how one might hear ancient sounds through modern ears by seeking to understand evidence of ancient rhythms, melodies and modes, as well as the sensations these musical sounds were said to have aroused in their time.

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