| Music is an art form which acts as an accurate mirror of social and cultural structures. If the society or the culture in a particular area is declining, it will be reflected in the music of that place straight away. Likewise, when the society or the culture is booming, the music will also thrive. Therefore, music has a major persona in the tracing the past of a country.
Modern music owes much to the Ancient Greeks. In fact, the word "music" is originated from the nine Ancient Greek muses - goddesses controlling the arts and sciences. Contemporary musicians refer to their muse, which is somebody who influences another person's creative work. A number of musical terms have their roots in the Greek language. Still, with the decline of Ancient Greece and the collapse of the Byzantine and Roman Empires, Greek music stopped its development for a few centuries until it was reborn in the Nineteenth century.
Greeks are said to have considered music a way of exalting the glory of god. Music was also part of their social life. It was played on all forms of social occasions. Since drama was also quite popular in Greece, they also used music when drama was staged.
It is normally believed that Greek music did not have harmony. It was mainly performed by one singer and not by a chorus as is commonly shown in Greek plays. Ancient Greek music laws were followed very strictly, and one form was not allowed to combine with another. The rules were so stringent that the viewers or listeners were not allowed to clap. The purpose of musical shows was not to entertain but to teach ordinary people.
Pythagoras was the first to launch the use of numbers to denote musical scales. The concept spread to Ancient Greek Music, and Pythagoras became known as the father of music theory. Most musical works, as reported, was monophonic. Hence, they were similar to each other. But when musicians started experimenting, experts like Plato considered it sacrilege of the purest form of music.
Modern Greek music is a combination of Greek folk music and both Eastern and Western influences. |