Music in Ancient Greece and Rome [Paperback]

John G Landels (Author), John G. Landels (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415248434 | ISBN-13: 978-0415248433 | Publication Date: January 28, 2001 | Edition: Digital Print

Music in Ancient Greece and Rome provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of music from Homeric times to the Roman emperor Hadrian, presented in a concise and user-friendly way. Chapters include:
* contexts in which music played a role
* a detailed discussion of instruments
* an analysis of scales, intervals and tuning
* the principal types of rhythm used
* and an exploration of Greek theories of harmony and acoustics.
Music in Ancient Greece and Rome also contains numerous musical examples, with illustrations of ancient instruments and the methods of playing them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A well-illustrated and comprehensive introduction to ancient music from Homeric times to the emperor Hadrian ... we recommend it highly as a book that is both scholarly and approachable, and of value to everyone with an interest in the subject, scholars, students and the general reader.' - Classical Association News

'John Landels has produced a lively and illuminating survey of what we know ... his book can be recommended to any musical person wishing to imagine for himself the sound, the atmosphere and the meaning of ancient song and dance.' - Roger Scruton, The Times

About the Author

John G Landels was Lecturer in Classics at the University of Hull (1953-59) and the University of Reading from 1960 until his retirement in 1989. He is the author of Engineering in the Ancient World (1978).

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; Digital Print edition (January 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415248434
• ISBN-13: 978-0415248433
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,274,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, February 21, 2008

By 

Rosatto (Spain) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Music in Ancient Greece and Rome (Hardcover)

This book is great. I was looking for a clear and concise introduction to the world of ancient western music, and this is it. There are other books, thicker and full of technicisms, detailing all the little nuances of modality, tuning, lexicography... Try to read them if you can. This book manages to cover all the topics I was interested in (instruments, scales, notation) and some others in a brilliant way. It is a bit on the expensive side, but totally worth it.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Music History Better, June 11, 2007

By 

sweetviolets "sweetviolets" (Arnold, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music in Ancient Greece and Rome (Paperback)

This is so far a fascinating book to read. It covers music from ancient times and he uses actual music that was uncovered from those times. What I find very interesting is the connection to the modal/tonal music that we are most familiar with in this day and age. I like the way he connects things in his book! I recommend this to anyone who is interested in history and music alike. I think I shall enjoy this book for years to come!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for every scholar of classics or music, January 17, 2010

By 

R. Crowell "the unexamined life is not worth ... (Southern New England) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Music in Ancient Greece and Rome (Paperback)

My PhD is in Classical Studies, and this is the best-written work I've seen by anyone in the field. The author wrote it in his retirement, which may explain his comfortable, no-nonsense approach to the subject matter, although I have a feeling he was the same way as a professor. The material is thoroughly covered but with no time-wasting pedantic preening, and the prose style is actually a pleasure to read. If you love music, and you love the literature and art of ancient Greece, this is a book you will treasure.