There is a piece by Iannis Xenakis for harpsichord called Khoaï (one can see the first page of the music sheet with both Greek and Latin title here: https://www.iannis-xenakis.org/partitions/partition_61.jpg) and I am somewhat confused with the usage of diaeresis in the transliteration. I understand that diaeresis has been used on letters i and u in Ancient Greek (at least in Hellenistic period), but Modern Greek uses it within diphtongs.
I would assume that Xenkis wrote the title in Modern Greek, rather than Ancient (please correct me if I’m wrong). However, are there any rules or standards when it comes to transliteration of diaeresis in Ancient Greek? My personal transliteration of this particular title (Xοαί) would be Khoaí, not Khoaï.
It’s probably a mistake by someone. I think χοαί is ancient Greek “libations for the dead” – the plural of χοἠ would be χοες in Modern Greek, if it’s a word that is still in circulation, wouldn’t it?
Yes, of course. I should have seen that. Without the trėma (dieresis), ai would be pronounced in French as an open e (like the ancient Attic pronunciation of η), not as a diphthong. Xenakis lived as an exile in Paris much of his life, and this work was published there.
But thanks to the OP for bringing this music to my attention. Listened to it on You Tube, performed by Elizabeth Chojnacka herself:.
