"The Ancient Greek Modes"

"Spirit of the Kithara" - A clip of track 1 from my album, "The Ancient Greek Modes". This piece is in the ancient Greek "Dorian" mode. This album features 7 original compositions in the 7 original Ancient Greek Modes, arranged for replica ancient Greek Kithara-style lyre...

The names of musical modes in use today, (e.g. Dorian, Mixolydian etc) although having the same names as the original Greek musical modes, were actually misnamed during the Middle Ages! Apparently, the Greeks counted intervals from top to bottom. When medieval ecclesiastical scholars tried to interpret the ancient texts, they counted from bottom to top, jumbling the information. The misnamed medieval modes are only distinguished by the ancient Greek modes of the same name, by being labelled Church Modes. It was due to a misinterpretation of the Latin texts of Boethius, that medieval modes were given the wrong Greek names!

According to an article on Greece in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and
Musicians, the original ancient Greek names for species of the octave included the following (on white keys):

B-B: Mixolydian
E-E: Dorian
A-A: Hypodorian
D-D: Phrygian
G-G: Hypophrygian
C-C: Lydian
F-F: Hypolydian

For what Plato & Aristotle themselves had this to say about these ancient musical modes, please see this fascinating link:

http://www.pathguy.com/modes.htm

All of my 9 albums of mystical, ancient lyre music are now available from iTunes...

1)"An Ancient Lyre": http://bit.ly/dhCozi

2)"King David's Lyre; Echoes of Ancient Israel":
http://bit.ly/9PCIua




3)"The Ancient Biblical Lyre": http://bit.ly/9hTDje

4)"Lyre of the Levites": http://bit.ly/9baWuM

5)"Apollo's Lyre": http://bit.ly/dhCozi

6)"Ancient Times -- Music of The Ancient World": http://bit.ly/aRF5PD

7)"The Ancient Greek Modes": http://bit.ly/cZks0o

8)"The Ancient Greek Lyre": http://bit.ly/bxO7Ra

9)"Ancient Visions -- New Compositions for an Ancient Lyre": http://bit.ly/dCPmRN

Physical CDs are also available anywhere in the world from CD Baby, for 3 of my best selling albums:

"An Ancient Lyre": http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mlevy4

"King David's Lyre; Echoes of Ancient Israel":
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mlevy

"Lyre of the Levites": http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mlevy2

For full details, please visit:

http:www.ancientlyre.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ancient
• Greek
• Music
• Kithara
• Lyre
• Lyra
• Acropolis
• Parthenon
• Plato
• Aristotle
• Socrates
• Homer
• Classics

[luizcarlosrauberoliv]

which mode did you use?

[Klezfiddle1]

@luizcarlosrauberoliv Please see "about this video" section for full details - this piece is in the Ancient Greek Dorian Mode (equivalent intervals as E-E on white notes of the piano. This is not to be confused with the Medieval "Dorian" mode (D-D) - due to a mega botch by Medieval "scholars", all the original ancient Greek modes were given he wrong Greek names...& we have been stuck with their presumably "Mead-fuelled" terminology to the present day!!

[fleisch19843]

would this be considered "phrygian" in any sense? The medieval name for this mode would be phyrygian perhaps?



[rodaygh9]

why pathguy dont have Hellas transalate?

Ask help if you think you are not enouth good.

People of Ellada they can give you right direction to your future.

Good day

[WEIRDALROXMYSOX]

Great work my friend!

[leftysergeant]

One of these days, I shall fully understand the technical aspects of these musical modes that you are demonstrating. Perhaps that might help show by what routes some of the modern lyres got to where they appear in Africa. In the mean time , I shall just enjoy the fact that it is pleasing to listen to these marvelous works.

[anamasuf]

@moony20oc Hello Habibti!

Thank you very much for sharing with me this excellent job!

Kisses and hugs!

[anamasuf]

Hello Dear Michael

Wonderful music and pictures!

Thanks a lot for the post

Congratulations!

Ana

[elad463]

yes, very good

[moony20oc]

Congratulations! wonderful music ..great job as always.