Music was essential to the pattern and texture of Greek life, as it was an important feature of religious festivals, marriage and funeral rites, and banquet gatherings. Our knowledge of ancient Greek music comes from actual fragments of musical scores, literary references, and the remains of musical instruments. Although extant musical scores are rare, incomplete, and of relatively late date, abundant literary references shed light on the practice of music, its social functions, and its perceived aesthetic qualities. Likewise, inscriptions provide information about the economics and institutional organization of professional musicians, recording such things as prizes awarded and fees paid for services. The archaeological record attests to monuments erected in honor of accomplished musicians and to splendid roofed concert halls. In Athens during the second half of the fifth century B.C., the Odeion (roofed concert hall) of Perikles was erected on the south slope of the Athenian akropolis—physical testimony to the importance of music in Athenian culture.
In addition to the physical remains of musical instruments in a number of archaeological contexts, depictions of musicians and musical events in vase painting and sculpture provide valuable information about the kinds of instruments that were preferred and how they were actually played. Although the ancient Greeks were familiar with many kinds of instruments, three in particular were favored for composition and performance: the kithara, a plucked string instrument; the lyre, also a string instrument; and the aulos, a double-reed instrument. Most Greek men trained to play an instrument competently, and to sing and perform choral dances. Instrumental music or the singing of a hymn regularly accompanied everyday activities and formal acts of worship. Shepherds piped to their flocks, oarsmen and infantry kept time to music, and women made music at home. The art of singing to one’s own stringed accompaniment was highly developed. Greek philosophers saw a relationship between music and mathematics, envisioning music as a paradigm of harmonious order reflecting the cosmos and the human soul.
Citation
Hemingway, Colette, and Seán Hemingway. “Music in Ancient Greece.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grmu/hd_grmu.htm (October 2001)
Further Reading
Anderson, Warren D. Music and Musicians in Ancient Greece. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1994.
Bundrick, Sheramy D. Music and Image in Classical Athens. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Norris, Michael. Greek Art from Prehistoric to Classical: A Resource for Educators. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. See on MetPublications
Additional Essays by Seán Hemingway
- Hemingway, Seán. “Art of the Hellenistic Age and the Hellenistic Tradition.” (April 2007)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Greek Hydriai (Water Jars) and Their Artistic Decoration.” (July 2007)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Hellenistic Jewelry.” (April 2007)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Intellectual Pursuits of the Hellenistic Age.” (April 2007)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Mycenaean Civilization.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Africans in Ancient Greek Art.” (January 2008)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Ancient Greek Colonization and Trade and their Influence on Greek Art.” (July 2007)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Greek Gods and Religious Practices.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Seán. “The Art of Classical Greece (ca. 480–323 B.C.).” (January 2008)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Athletics in Ancient Greece.” (October 2002)
- Hemingway, Seán. “The Rise of Macedon and the Conquests of Alexander the Great.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Seán. “The Technique of Bronze Statuary in Ancient Greece.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Cyprus—Island of Copper.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Etruscan Art.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Prehistoric Cypriot Art and Culture.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Seán. “Minoan Crete.” (October 2002)
Additional Essays by Colette Hemingway
- Hemingway, Colette. “Art of the Hellenistic Age and the Hellenistic Tradition.” (April 2007)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Greek Hydriai (Water Jars) and Their Artistic Decoration.” (July 2007)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Hellenistic Jewelry.” (April 2007)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Intellectual Pursuits of the Hellenistic Age.” (April 2007)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Mycenaean Civilization.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Retrospective Styles in Greek and Roman Sculpture.” (July 2007)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Africans in Ancient Greek Art.” (January 2008)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Ancient Greek Colonization and Trade and their Influence on Greek Art.” (July 2007)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Architecture in Ancient Greece.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Greek Gods and Religious Practices.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Colette. “The Art of Classical Greece (ca. 480–323 B.C.).” (January 2008)
- Hemingway, Colette. “The Labors of Herakles.” (January 2008)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Athletics in Ancient Greece.” (October 2002)
- Hemingway, Colette. “The Rise of Macedon and the Conquests of Alexander the Great.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “The Technique of Bronze Statuary in Ancient Greece.” (October 2003)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Women in Classical Greece.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Cyprus—Island of Copper.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) and Art.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Etruscan Art.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Prehistoric Cypriot Art and Culture.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Sardis.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Medicine in Classical Antiquity.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Southern Italian Vase Painting.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Theater in Ancient Greece.” (October 2004)
- Hemingway, Colette. “The Kithara in Ancient Greece.” (October 2002)
- Hemingway, Colette. “Minoan Crete.” (October 2002)
