Rome: Music From The HBO Series

Released in 2007, this collection presents composer Jeff Beal's work for the acclaimed HBO series ROME. By incorporating instruments that approximate those used in ancient times, along with an orchestra, Beal succeeds in conjuring up pieces that reflect the high drama of both the era and the show (see the seductive, foreboding "Rome Main Title Theme" and the melancholy "Niobe's Theme").

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Ensemble De Organographia - Music of Ancient Sumerians, Egyptians & Greeks

De Organographia performs the music of Ancient Greece on a myriad of faithful reproductions of period instruments. Their concerts are informative and entertaining presentations using period text and song to bring to life the musical art of the distant past. The ancient Greek repertoire of De Organographia is brought alive in an improvisatory style based on precepts preserved in the writings of antiquity.

De Organographia performs on a collection of instruments of their own making: aulos (double reed pipe), lyra (Lyre), kithara (the ornate lyre of the professional musician), syrinx (panpipes), syrinx monokalamos (vertical flute), trichordon (small 3 stringed lute), psythirã (rattle), tympanon (drum), kymbala (cymbals), and salpinx (trumpet). Music of the Ancient Greeks is the title of their CD released in 1995 that includes virtually all of the extant music, an amazing group of diverse pieces dating from 500 BC to 300 AD. Included are two choral ode fragments from "Orestes" and "Iphigeneia in Aulis" by Euripides, "Hymn to the Sun", "Hymn to Nemesis" and "Invocation of Calliope and Apollo" by the Cretan composer Mesomedes, and the two most extensive pieces which are paeans from Delphi.

They were both performed there in 126 BC at the same occasion and were found carved onto the walls of the Athenian Treasury at Delphi. Ancient Greek music is unlike anything heard in concert today. The 50 or so surviving pieces range from exotic dramatic choruses written in tunings that employ microtones (musical intervals smaller than a half step) to almost modern sounding instrumental melodies.

Many are written in odd meters such as 5/4 and 15/8 (expressed in modern time signatures) which are also found in some of today's eastern European folk music. There are hymns and invocations to various gods, a skolion or drinking song, and the earliest christian hymn that survives with musical notation. Music of the Ancient Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks, comprising 24 tracks, was released in 1999.

The Neumans have presented concerts, workshops, clinics and lectures throughout the United States, Europe and Asia since 1978, and have been featured on numerous television and radio programs, including National Public Radio's "Performance Today". De Organographia recordings include "Bicinia Sacra et Profana" and "Music of the Ancient Greeks". The Neumans have lectured and performed ancient Greek music for such prestigious institutions as Oberlin Conservatory, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland Museum of Art, and have written for the British journal "Didaskalia: Ancient Greek Theatre Today". 

Musica Romana - Symphonia Panica

This CD deals with archaeological finds of ancient musical instruments. Emphasis is placed on Roman Panflutes, of which several have survived. These pan-flutes have been reconstructed. You can listen to two of them are on this CD. The Panflute from Titz-Ameln in Germany and from Eschnez in Switzerland. Also accompanying reconstructions of lute, harp, reed-instruments and percussion-instruments, the panflutes are on their way to the present day.

The songs are partly of original notations of Roman times, because in fact there were already an ancient musical notation. The other titles have been carefully composed to sound the broad spectrum of instruments posibilities. The CD was produced in cooperation with the Kantons-Archäologie Thurgau, Switzerland.

Tracklist
1. XVIII 3:27
2. Cave Carmen 2:41
3. Pandoura Hora 2:45
4. Fistula Thurga 2:39
5. Poem Mor 3:30
6. Fistulae Pastorales 2:46
7. Caerulae Bellermanni 2:24
8. Faunus 2:51

Musica Romana - Pugnate

"Pugnate" - Music of the Roman arena, with an air of games and celebrations, invocations of the Gods, gladiator fights, orgies and dance. Performed on a reconstructed ancient water organ, together with brass, ancient reed instruments, flutes and percussion.

A compilation of modern music in ancient style and preserved original compositions from antiquity in ancient notation.

The group Musica Romana was founded in 2001 and unites archaeologists, historians,ethnologist, musicians and interested technicians sharing an interest in Experimental Archaeology, Living History, museal paedagogics and of course, music and dance. They are having a lot of fun researching, planning and reconstructing our instruments correctly in detail, as well as studying, composing and rehearsing our music. They aim to make the music of times long gone comprehensible to our modern audience, to express our love for unconventional and non-commercial music and to respect scientific correctness towards the ancient sources of musical theory as well as towards contemporary research. Certainly at least it is our interpretation.

They hope to push forward modern research with our work, and, above all, to delight people and enrich their knowledge.

In order to bring the atmosphere of historical musical practice to life, they perform in correspondig historical clothing which we reconstruct according to iconographic sources, historical descriptions and archaeological textile finds.

In our presentations we take turns with verbal explanations and practical musical examples.

Discography:
"Mesomedes" (2004)
"Symphonia Panica" (2006)
"Pugnate" (2008)
"Cave Carmen" - Live (Winter 2008/09)

MP3 - 1 RAR file 80MB
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Music From Ancient Rome

Vol. 1 Wind instruments

This CD is a wonderful collection of music for wind instruments from ancient Rome's imperial period played on accurate replicas of various Roman instruments. This is a great buy for anyone interested in ancient music or the study of ancient Rome.

There are unfortunately few direct sources on the composition of Roman music. Most of the work in this CD is a recreation of what the music would have sounded like based on the range of the instruments, various classical sources, and anthropological studies of present Mediterranean cultures. I strongly disagree with a previous reviewer's giving of a low rating on the basis that the music is not the direct product of Roman sheet music. Although there may be certain inaccuracies in the recomposition of such music, the number of different scholars who participated in producing this work from various disciplines probably makes such inaccuracies rather slim. Furthermore, since there is no direct source for such music nor is it likely that we will ever uncover any, it's better to have this than nothing at all. The music is primarily brass and percussion but it also has

string accompaniments for certain pieces. The music is charming and makes one feel as if they are reclining on their sofas, eating dates, and drinking wine in praise of Baccus. The package makes this CD worth every penny as it has a very detailed synopsis of all the instruments, the works themselves, and the work that was involved in this music: the pamphlet is also filled with photographs and drawings of the instruments as well as various Roman frescoes from Pompey depicting Roman social life and the instruments in question.

MP3 25 tracks - 1 RAR file 81MB
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Vol. 2 String Instruments

This CD is an exploration of ancient Roman music utilizing what is known by scholars and putting this knowledge into a performance practice. The CD is presented in the form of a booklet (with a nice cover taken from one of the frescos in the Villa of Mysteries) of 33 pages that provides an excellent introduction to origins of music and the instruments that are being played in these recordings. The booklet is nicely illustrated with photographs of the instruments played in these recordings and depictions of them in ancient sculpture and paintings.

The music played on this CD does not come from any ancient compositions but have been composed based on what is known of ancient Roman music and performance. The man behind this CD and an earlier one based on wind instruments (two tracks of which were used in the film Gladiator) is Walter Maioli. He is described as an artist-researcher and has given concert performances of ancient music. This music on the CD is described in detail in the booklet and what instrument(s) are being played. There are purely instrumental tracks and some that include chanting by one or more performers. The first track, Invocation to Mercury, includes a text from book 5 of Ovid's Fasti and one of the love poems is the basis of the Erato track. While stringed instruments are dominate in this collection, drums and cymbals are also plays in some of the compositions, notably in the first and fourteenth tracks. There is a variety to the music: some for multiple instruments, some demonstrating the playing of string instruments and those with chanting providing with an overall sense of what ancient music sounded like. So while this CD is a scholarly attempt to re-create ancient music it is also entertaining to hear. You can use your imagination to be transported back in time, reclining on a couch following dinner in a richly decorated trinclinium. I recommend this disc to anyone interested in ancient music and its recreation.

MP3 16 tracks - 1 RAR file 79MB
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La Musique de l'Antiquité (Music of the Ancient World)

Description

This CD is the first in a 25 CD series from Harmonia Mundi titled Century - A History of Music, which offers an in-depth exploration of the glories of twenty-five centuries of Western music. CD1 presents a sampling of pre-Christian Greek music, early Hebrew traditions, and early Byzantine, Melkite and Gallican chant forms. Perfect for those interested in exploring the history and development of western music, these discs will also provide hours of enjoyment for the listener who is interested only in specific periods he or she already enjoys or would like to discover. Each volume in the Century collection is presented in a unique eight-panel digipak with 16-page booklet exclusively designed for this series, fully illustrated and containing texts that are both educational and entertaining. Extensive liner notes in French and English. No hymn text.

Review

As a CD which is part of such a major undertaking and which is comprised of tracks from the Harmonia Mundi library (some from out of print, others from currently available recordings), it is difficult to be less than favorable, as none of the originals were less than good, and some were exquisite. With that said about the music, then, let's consider the offering and it's value to the listener. Music of the Ancient World (Vol. 1) offers at least two things of importance to the majority of listeners. The first is a somewhat linear sampling of ancient music forms that links them together in developmental form. (The one flaw on this CD is that the Byzantine and Melkite chant examples, while exquisite, are late medieval rather than early arrangements.) For those seeking to understand the developmental process of Christian liturgical and/or western music, this is quite valuable. The second is to simply make them available, as three of the five CDs represented are now out of print. Thus it is an important and enjoyable recording with some exquisite moments.

Tracklist
01. Musique de la Grece Antique - Akousate
02. Musique de la Grece Antique - Melomai
03. Musique de la Grece Antique - Eros
04. Musique de la Grece Antique - Nomos M
05. Musique de la Grece Antique - Dakylos amera
06. Musique de la Grece Antique - Makrotatos
07. Musique de la Grece Antique - Ekleipsis
08. La Musique de la Bible Revelee - Psaume 23
09. La Musique de la Bible Revelee - Psaume 24
10. La Musique de la Bible Revelee - Cantique des Cantiques
11. La Musique de la Bible Revelee Lamentations I
12. La Musique de la Bible Revelee - Psaume 150
13. La Musique de la Bible Revelee - Esther
14. Chant Byzantin - Alleluia
15. Chant Byzantin - Exapostelarion (Arabic)
16. Chant Byzantin - Exapostelarion (Greek)
17. Chant Byzantin - Exapostelarion (Arabic)
18. Chant Byzantin - Koinonikon
19. Chant Byzantin - Canon, Ode 1
20. Chant Byzantin - Canon, Ode 2
21. Chant Byzantin - Canon, Ode 3
22. Chants Sacres Melchites - Axion esti
23. Chants Sacres Melchites - Ya walidata-l-ilah
24. Alleluias & Offertories of the Gauls - Allelulia Martinus
25. Alleluias & Offertories of the Gauls - Offertoire Martinus igitur

Artist: Various Artists
Category: Various Traditions
Chant Type: Various
Language: Various
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Period: Ancient
Length: 68'11
Release date: 2005

25 tracks - MP3 160 Kbps - 1 RAR file 102 MB
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P. Emilio Carapezza: Antiche Musiche Elleniche

Tracklist:
Ode pitica prima (470 a C) versi 1-5 / Pindaro (1:32)
Oreste (408 a C) versi 338-44 / Euripide (0:50)
Stele di Sicilio [ie Stele of Seikilos] (I secolo d C) (1:26)
Inno delfico primo (138 a C) / Ateneo (2:37)
Inno delfico secondo (128 a C) / Limenio di Thoino Ateniese (4:51)
Invocazione alla Musa (0:49) ; Inno al Sole (2:16) ; Invocazione al Calliope e ad Apollo (0:29) ; Inno a Nèmesi (1:33) / Mesomede di Creta
Inno cristiano d'Ossirinco (IV-V sec d C) (1:51)

Performers: 
Studio di Musica Antica Antonio I
l VersoGabriel Garrido, director.




Notes:

Music from ancient Greece. Vocal line from the original sources performed by an ensemble of mixed voices; acc. by various 16th cent. instruments. Modern performing ed. of the melodies and instrumental acc. reconstructed by Paolo Emilio Carapezza. Compact disc. Program notes by Carapezza in Italian and texts in Greek with Italian translations ([28] p.) inserted in container.

Issued with the periodical "Avidi lumi" (anno III, n. 7, Oct. 1999), which includes an article by Carapezza in Italian (p. 64-70) with English translation (p. 92-94).

10 tracks - MP3 160 Kbps - 1 RAR file 43MB
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Melos Archaion II

Tracklist:
01 - Epitafios tou Seikilou [1:05]
02 - Xoros tis Kirkis [2:01]
03 - ''Inta 'xete gyrou gyrou'' (Kritiko tragoudi tis tavlas) [3:49]
04 - Sympotiko tragoudi tou Alkaiou [1:44]
05 - Kolavrismos [6:33]
06 - Ithifalliko tragoudi (gia ton Dimítrio ton Poliorxití) [3:59]
07 - Proti Pythiki odi tou Pindarou [2:47]
08 - Skolio [2:34]
09 - I gamilia imera tis Sapfous [1:58]
10 - Simonidi Enkomio [2:04]
11 - Spartiatiko xoriko [0:28]
12 - Parthenio tou Pindarou [3:33]
13 - O ipnos tis fisis tou Alkmanos [2:20]
14 - Nivatismos [2:44]
15 - Ithifalliko tragoudi [1:07]
16 - Askaulos [4:59]
17 - ''Eros Erota Pyktalizo'' tou Anakreondos [1:26]
18 - Prooimion Iliados tou Omirou (Konstandinos Nikolopoulos) [2:43]

Aulites:
Giannis Basiliou, aulos
Giannis Dobridis, askaulos - bagpipe
Stavros Kouskouridas, souravli
Françoise Bucquet, lyre, barbitos
Stavros Beris, kithara
Nestoras Drougas, krotala, tympanon, rhoptron
Petros Tabouris, pandora, trigonon, piktis, hydraulis

Singers:
Tasos Aloupis, Alexandra Adamopoulos, Kostis Georgalis,
Nikos Konstantinopoulos, Giorgos Kostantzos, Apostolos Makridis,
Efi Minakoulis, Stavros Beris, Fenny Nousias, Dafni Panourias, Nikos Psarianos

Riciters:
K. Konstantopoulos, Elini Felipa, Stavroula Seitanidou
with participation of "Early Music Workshop".

18 tracks - MP3 160 Kbps - 1 RAR file 60MB
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Melos Archaion

Performers: Performed by vocal-instrumental group Aulites = Aulētes with the participation of the Early Music Workshop ; Petros Tampourēs, research, orchestration.

Notes: Compact disc.Reconstructions of sacred and secular ancient Greek vocal and instrumental music from original musical fragments, and music compositions based on ancient Greek musical systems.

Title from container. Program notes in Greek with English translation, lyrics in Greek, in part with English translations, and bibliographical references (34 p. : ill.) in container.

Contents:
01. Thrynos tou Simonidi
02. Apospasma nekrosimis akolouthias
03. Vakchikos xoros
04. Epitaphios tou Sikeilou
05. Proti Pythiki odi tou Pindarou
06. Sikkinis
07. To gamilio glenti tis Sapphous
08. Epithalamio tis Sapphous
09. Mousiko apospasma tis Kontrapolinopoleos
10. Kosmou ekpyrosis
11. Erotas apokryfos tou Anakreontos
12. Omirikos ymnos ston Ermi
13. Kalamos
14. Parthenio tou Alkman
15. Aulima
16. Tragoudi ton Sikelon voskon
17. Erotiko tou Anakreontos
18. Gypones
19. Egkomio tou Ivykou
20. Tragoudi ton falloforon
21. Eis kitharan
22. Deuteros Olympionikos tou Pindarou

22 tracks - MP3 160 Kbps - 1 RAR file 60MB
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Musique de la Grèce Antique

This CD is based on the original LP by Atrium Musicae de Madrid, under the direction of Gregorio Paniagua. It contains arrangements of all the then-known surviving works from ancient Greece, including some which are considered apocryphal by some musicologists. The recording uses reconstructions of an amazing variety of period instruments (string, wind, and percussion). Because of the fragmentary nature of many of the texts, the performers have had to treat the material in different ways: sometimes by "patching" it, sometimes simply by playing the "shards" interspersed with silence, drum beats, improvised notes or even dissonant noises. Included is the one tiny fragment that survives of ancient Roman music: one verse from a poem by Terencio.

List of tracks::

Anakrousis; Orestes Stasimo
Instrumental fragments from Contrapollinopolis
1st Delphic Hymn to Apollo
Lament of Tecmessa
Vienna Papyrus 29825
Hymn to the Sun
Hymn to the Muse
Hymn to Nemesis
Michigan Papyrus
Aenaoi Nefelai
Epitaph of Seikilos
Paean, Berlin Papyrus 6870
Anonymi Bellerman
1st Pythian Ode
Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 2436
Christian Hymn of Oxyrhynchus
Homero Hymnus
Papyrus Zenon, Cairo Fragment
Terencio, Hecyra 861
Poem, Mor 1, 11f. Migne 37, 523
2nd Delphic Hymn to Apollo
Papyrus Oslo A/B / Epilogos-Katastrophe

22 tracks - MP3 192 Kbps - 1 RAR file 76MB
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