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MUSIC is one of those art forms which act as an accurate mirror of social and cultural changes. If the society or the culture in a certain place is in decline, the music of that place will reflect it. Likewise, when the society or the culture is flourishing, the music will also thrive. Hence, music has a major persona in the tracing the history of a country and its culture.
Modern music owes much to the Ancient Greeks. In fact, the word "music" is derived from the 9 muses of Ancient Greece, who were goddesses controlling the arts and sciences. Present-day musicians refer to their muse, which is somebody who has an effect on another person's creative work. Different musical terms, such as melody, tune, rhythm and others have their roots in the Greek language. Yet, when Ancient Greece fell, Greek music stopped its development for several centuries until it was revived in the Nineteenth century.
Greeks are believed to have considered music a way of worshipping God. Music was also a part of their social life. It was played on all types of social occasions. As drama was also popular in Greece, music was used when drama was staged.
Greek music is usually said to have lacked harmony. It was generally performed by one singer and not by a choir as is normally seen in Greek plays. In Ancient Greece the laws of music were followed very stringently, and one form was not allowed to combine with another. The rules were so stringent that the viewers or listeners were not allowed to applaud. The aim of musical shows was not to amuse but to teach ordinary people.
Pythagoras was the first to launch the use of numbers to denote musical scales. The concept spread to Ancient Greek Music, and Pythagoras became known as the father of music theory. Most musical works, as reported, was monophonic. Thus, they were quire similar. But when musicians started experimenting, some experts like Plato showed strong disapproval.
Contemporary Greek music is a mixture of Greek folk and Eastern and Western tendencies.
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