Ancient Greek Music

David Creese of the University of Newcastle plays an ancient Greek song taken from stone inscriptions constructed on an eight-string "canon" (a zither-like instrument) with movable bridges. (Audio file is ©BBC)

What Ancient Greek Music Sounded Like

Dr David Creese performs three versions of the Epitaph of Seikilos, an Ancient Greek song, on the 8-string canon. This instrument developed from the monochord, a single-string instrument, used to study ideas about mathematics and music in Ancient Greece. 
 
He uses 2 different tunings. The first, soft and tonic diatonic, is one described by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD) as a tuning used during his time. The other tuning is the even diatonic, created by Ptolemy and described as rustic, but beautiful. Dr Creese also sings the Epitaph of Seikilos with the even diatonic tuning. 

The translated, the sung text is:

While you're alive, shine!
Don't be sad at all.
Life is just for a little while.
Time demands its due.


Alcman 58, perf. by Stephen G. Daitz

rhapsodoi