Customer Reviews

Music From Ancient Rome

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD went well beyond anything I could have imagined. The songs are performed on the very types of instruments that the ancient Romans would have played, and there is a lot of speaking and laughing and shrieking interspersed with some of the music. Flutes, drums, and other unique instruments combine in a haunting manner. The sound is very powerful and unusual -- it is not harmonious in the sense that we are familiar with -- yet at the same time it draws you in. It seems to transport you to the world of the ancient Romans. You can almost feel yourself in the midst of the crowds at a gladiatorial game or at a religious event. Although no authentic Roman music has survived to this day as far as I know, this music gives the impression that it is probably very close to what the original was like. The accompanying book is full of information and pictures, only unfortunately it is written in German; if you can find somebody to translate, though, it is well worth it as it will help you to see how much preparation has gone into creating this wonderful music.

As a final comment, the music in itself is enjoyable; I played it for someone who has no interest in Roman history and she really liked the music!

The most beautiful packaging of any CD I own. So lovely! The music is wonderful. The one problem is that the liner notes (and there are a lot of them) are in German. The text appears to have notes about how the project was researched, the instruments used and some notes about the compositions. I would love to read them, but I can't read German. The last third of the CD seems to go into a bit of more experimental sounding music that cause me to question if real ancient Romans would have listened to anything like that. At the end of the day I am really quite thankful that this CD was produced. It is wonderful.

Is your fondest wish to time- travel to the glorious days of Scipio Africanus, Gaius Marius and the ancient Rome of Caesar? I cannot recommend this work enough. Not only is the CD package amazingly beautiful but the tracks soar with forgotten vibrance. The authentic instrumentation alone is worth the purchase. Load the CD, light a olive-oil lamp, watch the shadows on the wall and return to the glory that was Rome!

This music is different to most of what is around these days which is why I like it. Pure ancient paganism, pure and innocent, intune with the extremes of nature and the ancients attempt to comprehend it.