Invocation of the Muse (2nd. c. A.D.)

This song was played several times for us in class and I was able to write down my thoughts and initial impressions of the music.  The translation and the background were not provided, so I will share my original impressions and then try to research more about this piece of ancient music.

 A woman sang in a beautiful clear voice without much vibrato.  A stringed instrument that resembled a lyre or a kithara was plucked while the woman sang.  The instrument played the same melody and the same rhythm that the woman sang.

The melody was simple yet very beautiful.  The entire range was probably less than one octave.  It was not a traditional minor or major mode which makes sense because we know that the ancient Greeks had their own modes that the church later reconstructed, but not correctly.   I have confirmed through more research that it was in Greek Dorian mode, which is the same as the church Lydian mode.  On the keyboard it would go from E to E.  I found it very interesting that Plato had referred to the Dorian mode as the real Greek mode and claimed that it created feelings of sincerity.  I have to agree with Plato because the music does sound very sincere,

Obviously I could not understand the words, but the way the song was put together made it seem like the words being sung were words of wisdom, or words of poetry.

While researching I was able to find a youtube video that played the same audio that we heard in class (or a similar one).  While the music played it displays pictures of ancient Greek art and architecture.  The visuals along with the music definitely help to transport me to Ancient Greece for a few moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAGoBL_xrQ8

I learned from my research that muses were believed to be the goddesses that inspired literature, poetry and art, and it was common practice to recite or sing an invocation to the muse before reciting poetry or telling a story.

I also found an English translation for the Invocation.

 'Sing for me, dear Muse, begin my tuneful strain; a breeze blow from your groves to stir my listless brain'. 


It was very interesting listening to the music once again knowing the English translation and trying to imagine myself in Ancient Greece singing this song to invoke a muse.