Synopses & Reviews
In this groundbreaking, all-encompassing work, an eminent musicologist explores the evolution of music. It ranges from the ecstatic singing and Shaman songs of early civilizations to the development of more structured styles in Egypt, East Asia, India, Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and Europe. Eight plates of illustrations depict players and orchestras fromand#160;China, Korea, Burma,and#160;India, and Egypt.
A survey of music in early societies leads to examinations of comparative musicology and its methods, melodic styles, rhythm and instrumental music, and polyphony. Advancing to the Western Orient and Eastern Asia, the author discusses musical systems in general, along with the concepts of scales, melody and rhythm, and notation. Subsequent chapters explore India's Vedic chants and ragas, the early modes of Greece and Rome, and the influence of the music of Islam. The book concludes with a look at the puzzle of medieval tonality and the conflict between European vocal and instrumental styles.
Synopsis
In this groundbreaking, all encompassing work, an eminent musicologist explores the evolution of music, from the ecstatic singing and Shaman songs of early civilizations to the development of more structured styles in Egypt, East Asia, India, Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and Europe. Eight plates of illustrations depict players and orchestras.
Synopsis
An eminent scholar explores the evolution of music, from the ecstatic singing of early civilizations to the development of more structured styles in Egypt, East Asia, Rome, and other regions.
Table of Contents
PrefaceSection One: The Origins of Music1. Music in Early Society2. Comparative Musicology and its Methods3. Melodic Styles4. Rhythm and Instrumental Music5. Polyphony6. ConclusionSection Two: The Western Orient1. High Civilization and Music2. Musical Systems in General3. Music in the Ancient Western Orient4. ConclusionSection Three: East Asia1. General Features2. The Land#252;'s3. The Scales4. Melody and Rhythm5. Notation6. Polyphony7. OrchestrasSection Four: India1. The Vedic Chant2. Pictorial and Literary Evidences3. Scales4. Rand#228;gas5. Rhythm and Form6. ConclusionSection Five: Greece and Rome1. The Sources2. Notation3. The Genera4. The Shades5. Early Modes6. The Perfect System7. The Relics8. Ethos9. Health and Education10. Counterpoint?11. Accents and Rhythm12. Form13. RomeSection Six: The Greek Heritage in the Music of Islam1. Scales and Modes2. Maqand#228;m3. Rhythm4. Polyphony5. FormSection Seven: Europe and the Road to Major and MinorEpilogueIndexand#160;