Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 18
A Sumerian banquet with music and song from the Royal Standard, Ur,
ca 2700 B.C.
Sumerian uses of music are reflected in a few lines praising music taken
from a long poem inscribed ca. 2400 B.C., on a clay cylinder of Gudea, a
peaceful priest-king who ruled at Lagash.
The poem is given in original cuneiform script, (see photo above)
Musics ministry
To fill with joy the temple court,
And chase the citys gloom away,
The heart to still, the passions calm,
Of weeping eyes and tears to stay.
The most ancient example of written song. A hymn to Nikkal, wife of the moon
god. The text is written upon a fragmented tablet and, therefore, is incomplete.
The hymn has four stanzas, each with a refrain. Stanzas 1 and 4 are imitation,
and stanzas 2 and 3 are identical musically. The singer is accompanied by a lyra.
The lyra harmony is predominantly in thirds and sixths, a few fourths, and one
fifth.
There are startling similarities between the Babylonian principles of music theory
and those used by ancient Greeks. Moreover, the Babylonian principles antedate
the Greek ones by more than a millenium.
The Babylonians seem to have used music exclusively in connection with religious
observances and festivals. The names of lyra/kithara strings and musical pitches
were related to their cult deities and to the planets in a cosmology similar to
Greek philosophers' "harmony of the spheres."
GREEK MUSIC
GREEK MUSIC
Aulos
Kithara
Lyre
EPITAPH OF SEIKILOS
ROMAN MUSIC
The Romans are credited with the development of
brass instruments and the cultivation of music
independent from poetry and drama.
In theatres and homes of rich citizens music was
performed by slaves, but virtuoso performers
were highly regarded and richly rewarded for
winning competitions.
RAIMBAUT DE VAQUEIRAS:
KALENDA MAYA (1195)
MUSIC PRINTING
The printing of music was first accomplished
during Josquins lifetime.
A liturgical book containing monophonic music
was printed in 1476, just 21 years after
Gutenbergs Bible.
The first printing of polyphonic music was done
by Ottaviano dei Petrucci of Venice in 1501.
The publication consists of 96 part-song of which
eight were by Josquin.
The printing of their music enhanced the
reputations of composers and diffused their
musical styles throughout Europe.
MUSIC PRINTING
Prior developments culminated in the 16th
century with a period known as the golden age
of vocal polyphony which matched the splendor
of Renaissance painting and literature.
The art of creating beautiful, euphonious texture
by interweaving graceful, fluid, melodic lines was
developed to the ultimate degree.
The two composers who contributed the most to
vocal polyphonys golden age were Giovanni
Pierluigi da Palestrina and Orlandus Lassus
PALESTRINA
For almost 400 years has been universally
regarded as the greatest composed of Catholic
church music.
After a period of study he became an organist
and choirmaster.
In 1551 he was appointed maestro of the
Cappella Giulia, the post he held at his death.
He was a prolific composer, his complete works
fill thirty-three volumes.