iTunes

Greek Learning Greek
1

I just found some Ancient Greek music on iTunes. Has anyone else downloaded these songs?

2

Can you give a title? Just a plain search on “ancient greek” is causing iTunes to yack up.

3

I just did a search for “ancient greek” and it came up.

…I really like the Hymn to the sun. Does anyone have the lyrics?

4

The one by Mesomedes? I can dig that up.

5

I actually own the physical CD. I will look for it, and see if the lyrics are in the booklet that usually comes with the CD. A long time ago, I loaded the whole CD in my iTunes library.

I also have “Angelique Ionatos chante Sappho de Mytilene”, inspired by ancient greek poems.

6

Ah, there they are. Yes, a few of these seem to be by Mesomedes, an abscure-ish poet who was lucky enough to have a number of his poems survive with musical notation.

The Hymn to the Muse is this: Mesomedes 1. I’ll see what I can do about the Hymn to the Sun.

7

Here is what the booklet says:

#6. Hymne au soleil (Hymn to the sun) ; sources: Conserved in diverse byzantine manuscripts. First edition by Vicenzo Galilei, 1581.

#7 Hymne a la muse (Hymn to the Muse) Author: Mesomede de Crete, (around 130 after JC) Source: Mesomedes. Conspectus codicum : V. Venetus Marcianus app. cl.VI, 10.saec XIII-XIV. C. Parisinus Coislinianus graecus 173.saec XIV.