Karitas

Vaya Vaya

Track 1 from my album, "The Ancient Roman Lyre". This album is the third in my series of ancient Roman-themed albums, the sequel to “Echoes of Ancient Rome” & "Ode To Ancient Rome". Like the first two albums in this series, "The Ancient Roman Lyre" comprises of a series of original compositions for an ancient lyre in authentic ancient musical modes, to evoke once more, the lost music of ancient Rome. These set of compositions for my replica Kithara-style lyre is my attempt to restore a precious remnant of the music of ancient Rome, which for the most part, is now forever lost... 

Unlike ancient Greece, tragically, virtually no surviving written music has survived from ancient Rome. These set of composition for my replica Kithara-style lyre is my attempt to restore a precious remnant of the music of ancient Rome, which is now forever lost - so far, all that has been discovered, is one pitiful fragment by Terence: 

TERENCIO, HECYRA 861 (Terence). Versus 861. Hecyra of Terence. Codex Victorianus Laurentianus XXXVIII-24, saec. X 

This piece can be heard track 19, on the recording "Musique de la Grece Antique". Here are some more details from the notes for this unIque album, about the only surviving fragment of written music ever found from ancient Rome: 

"We have added the only surviving musical fragment of 
Imperial Rome: four mutilated measures from a work by Terence. It is as if nothing were 
left of the Acropolis but a few scattered bits of columns and a pair of ruined capitals" 

Even this tiny fragment is no longer deemed to be authentic, according the musicologist Thomas J. Mathiesen). However, since Rome borrowed so much from the culture of ancient Greece, in attempting to recreate an evocation of the lost music of ancient Rome, it is most likely that the Roman composers of antiquity also used the ancient Greek musical modes... 

THE ANCIENT MUSICAL MODES USED IN THIS ALBUM 

Due to the known prominent influence of Ancient Greek culture in the Roman world, in order to create an authentic-sounding evocation of what the solo lyre music of ancient Rome may have once sounded, I decided to base the compositions in a selection some of the original Ancient Greek modes, with melodies inspired mostly by a "Musical Adventure in Time Travel" of the gods of Ancient Rome. 

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 had this to say about these ancient musical modes, please see this fascinating link: 

www.pathguy.com/modes.htm 


THE TUNING OF ANTIQUITY 

In antiquity, lyres were tuned either cyclically, in perfect 5ths, the 3rds & 6ths then being fine-tuned by ear (Pythagorean tuning) or divisively (using exact mathematical ratios to precisely divide a musical string into specific pitch ratios) to achieve what is called "Just Intonation". 

The modern tuning system of equal temperament was devised to enable music to be performed in any of the 12 keys of the chromatic scale whilst keeping exactly the same equal ratio of pitch between each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale...which sadly has sacrificed the essential purity of tone, which can only be heard in the just intonation once used in antiquity. 

Divisive tuning was the most natural way to tune the ancient lutes, or any fretted instrument, which uses frets to divide the vibrating portion of each string into the required precise ratio of pitches. Although more often cylically tuned when played solo, Lyres were also often divisively tuned in antiquity, as they were quite often played in ensemble with other instruments which were in turn, divisively tuned. 

Although described in the writings of Pythagoras in his experiments at dividing a musical monochord, the divisive tuning system predates Pythagoras by thousands of years and may have evolved along with the origin of the long-necked lute in ancient Babylonia some 5000 years ago, according to John Wheeler (editor of Suzanne Haik Vantoura’s book, “The Music of the Bible Revealed”): 

"The long-necked lute (according to Curt Sachs) was invented in Babylonia, and indeed thanks to that fact divisive tuning was invented there also. Cyclical tuning was also known there (and that got documented long after his death by the famous theory and hymn tablets from Babylon and Ugarit), but there is this curious fact: the Babylonians used divisive tuning as the basis for their symbolic correlation of the pillar degrees of the octave (e.g., C-F-G-C') with the four seasons, while the Chinese used cyclical tuning as the basis for the symbolic correlation of the same. This (wrote Sachs) is consistent as Babylon was the "home" of the lute and China the "home" of the harp (even though Babylon knew of harps and lyres too and China, if memory serves, also knew the lute from very early times). Divisive tuning is the "natural" tuning of the lute, as cyclical tuning is the "natural" tuning of the harp and lyre, according to Sachs. By that he meant that it's easiest and most natural to tune, and then to play, folk instruments of those genres that way - as I can vouch as a working musician" 

I have used divisive tuning throughout this album, in my attempt to recreate the purity of the just intonation used in antiquity, which like the music of ancient Rome, has now sadly been forgotten... 


ANCIENT LYRE PLAYING TECHNIQUES 

All the various lyre-playing techniques heard in this album, are authentically based on lyre-playing styles which have remarkably survived from Antiquity & which still can be heard today in the amazing lyres still played throughout the continent of Africa, where unlike the rest of the Western world, a precious remnant of the cross-cultural influences from the around ancient world have miraculously survived. 

Some of these lyre-playing techniques include the “block & strum” method, still practised today by the Krar Lyre players of Eritrea in East Africa – this technique allows the player to strum rhythm & basic chords on the lyre, similar to an acoustic guitar. This technique entails blocking strings with the left hand which are not required and leaving open only the strings which form the required intervals, which then can be strummed with a plectrum in the left hand. 
Ancient illustrations of Kithara players seem to infer that this technique was also prominent in Ancient Greece – many illustrations clearly depict the left of the lyre player blocking/dampening the strings with the left hand whilst strumming the open strings with a plectrum in their right hand. 

Other lyre playing techniques include the use of tremolo (based on the style of Egyptian Simsimiyya Lyre Players still heard today), alternating between harp-like finger plucked tones played with the left hand, and guitar-like plectrum-plucked tones with the right hand, using basic finger-plucked intervals/chords with the left hand to form a basic harmonic background for the melodic line being played with the plectrum in the right hand. 

I also explore the rare percussive hammered lyre playing technique, where the stings of the lyre are hit with small wooden baton (like on a hammered dulcimer), instead of being plucked with either the fingers or a plectrum... 

THE TRACKS 

1. Cogitatio (Reflections) - this piece uses the introspective ancient Greek Hypophrygian Mode. 

2. Amatores (Lovers) - this piece uses the wonderfully dream-like, feminine-sounding ancient Greek Hypolydian Mode 

3. Tranquillitas (Serenity) - this piece features the ancient Greek Hypodorian Mode. This mode, for me evokes feelings of inner contentment, serenity and tranquillity... 

4. Contemplationis (Contemplation) - this piece is composed in the ancient Greek Dorian Mode - intensely introspective, this mode enhances the feeling of concentration in the listener. 

5. Desiderantes (Yearning) - this composition features the ancient Greek Phrygian Mode - the Mode seems to create a sense of beautiful poignancy, longing & yearning... 

6.Tristitia (Sorrow) - this piece explores the mournful quality, also inherent in the sound of the ancient Greek Hypophrygian Mode. 

7. Gloria Belli (Glory of Battle) - as well as the intense, concentration-increasing qualities of the ancient Greek Dorian Mode when played slowly and softly, (as explored in track 1 of this album), according to Plato & Aristotle, the ancient Greek Dorian Mode was also the most "manly" of all the musical modes - they even went so far as to suggest that it could inspire bravery in battle! In this piece, I attempt to explore the war-like quality of the the ancient Greek Dorian Mode, which is most evident when played in a vigorous piece such as this. 

For full details of all my releases on iTunes & Amazon for solo lyre, please visit my offical website: 

www.ancientlyre.com

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Cogitatio (Reflections)

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This meditation was created specially for my client. I just received her voice message and created a unique meditation according a vibrations of her voice. It is my technology - to creating a healing meditation according of a voice vibrations of a client. If you want to get your unique healing meditation just write to my E-Mail ashot_danielyan_composer@yahoo.com or write direct message in SoundCloud and we will discuss it.

Эта медитация была создана специально для моего клиента. Я получил ее голосовое сообщение и создал уникальную медитацию в соответствии с вибрациями ее голоса. Это моя технология - создавать целительную медитацию по вибрациям голоса клиента. Если вы хотите получить свою персональную медитацию, просто напишите на мой E-Mail ashot_danielyan_composer@yahoo.com, и мы обсудим это.

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Composer: DANIELYAN ASHOT MAKICHEVICH (IPI NAME 00855552512), UNITED STATES BMI.

Tatiana's Meditation

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Ashot Danielyan - Tatiana's Meditation

Nicola Fiorenza (1700-1764) / Concerto per violoncelle con violoni e basso continuo en La minore / Largo-Allegro-Adagio-Allegro

Victor Sobolenko - violoncello & Musica Petropolitana 
Recorded at Studio 1, Russian Television & Radio-Classica Studios, St. Petersburg, Russia. Recording Engineer: Oleg Vasiljev (1991)



Nicola Fiorenza / Concerto per violoncelle con violoni e basso continuo en La minore

Alleluia! O Virga mediatrix, sancta viscera tua mortem superaverunt et venter tuus omnes creaturas illuminavit il pulchro flore de suavissima integritate clausi pudoris tui orto.

Alelluia! O branch and mediatrix, your sacred flesh has conquered death, your womb all creatures illumined in beauty's bloom from that exquisite purity of your enclosed modesty sprung forth.

Alleluia, O  Virgo Mediatrix , Hildegard von Bingen

Various tempos also broken into different sections.

Track 07

Boccherini owes his celebrity to more than just the Minuet of the Quintet op.11 no.5 (although that can be heard here too)!
This recording proves the fact with stunning brilliance: from the castanets of the Fandango to the much more Viennese style of the String Quartet, the musicians of the Cuarteto Casals and their guests demonstrate the infinite creative resources of the composer. It culminates in the Night Music of the Streets of Madrid, a vivid example of musical realism in which, as Boccherini put it, ‘the strict rules of counterpoint' would be out of place! 
short description 

Full track: String Quartet in G minor / sol mineur / g-moll G.205, op.32 no.5- III. Menuetto con moto - Trio

from MINIMAL HARP
(Decca)

Floraleda Sacchi (harp & percussion)
 
Among the original pieces, some in the world première recording or first recording in the version for harp, Mrs Sacchi invents a new fascinating chapter of harp history. 
Angelo Foletto, La Repubblica

Arvo Part - Pari intervallo - Floraleda Sacchi Harp

Beach II

music : John Dowland (1563 - 1626)
(from a manuscript in the "British Museum". Transcribed from lute tablature and arranged for guitar by Karl Scheit. Published in "Universal Edition" 1956) 

guitar : Frank Hiemenz
youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFJYhgzNOdI&hd=1
----------------------------- 
part of an unfinished studio project. Only a compact cassette (!) copy of the original studio tape remained from this. 
Recorded in puzzlepie studio Munich/Türkenfeld  ('88)
Sound restauration with WaveLab 7 (2012) by FHgitarre
----------------------------- 
Original Artwork (CCL) by Nancy Ellis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaisanter/5227004746/

Allemande (My Lady Hunssdon's Puffe) by John Dowland

Polyhymnia, founded in 2020, is a Saint Louis based, Catholic women's choir comprised of professional singers and musicians. The group's mission is to promote the classical arts  in parish communities through liturgy, performance, and mentoring. 

Alleluia, O Virgo Mediatrix , Hildegard von Bingen

Polyhymnia

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