Dance of the Spartans - Ancient Greek Music

Music by Farya Faraji, based on melodic folk motifs from Greece. This is another speculative attempt at reconstructing Ancient Greek music, this time using slightly different methodology than my other reconstructions. Whilst my other reconstructions are solely rooted in Ancient Greek sources and Ancient Greek music theory, I wanted to try a methodology of reverse-engineering by looking at modern folk Greek music and using its elements that are also attested in Ancient Greek music. The instruments are all from the soundscape of Ancient Greece: the aulos, the lyre, and a mantoura—the latter is a simple reed instrument from Crete, and such instruments are attested in Ancient Greece. I based this on motifs found across Crete, the Cyclades and Thrace, since they are the modern day regions that still use such reed instruments like in Ancient Greece, and therefore their sound is our best bet, in my opinion, at reverse-engineering the most probable usage of these instruments throughout the Greek world, given that they were ubiquitous throughout Greece back then. The melody is possible given what we know of the historical practice, with the usage of the Phrygian mode (what we call today the Dorian mode), although it’s not certain how folk melodies for dances were built, and whether they were ornamented in such a way especially before the Roman era, were ornamentation becomes more increasingly used.

The more speculative aspect I used is that of Greek Isokratima, a drone that supports the monophonic structure of the melody by switching from tonic to subtonic, one that is widely present in traditional Greek and Balkanic music today and has been for a few centuries now. This form of drone support is entirely speculative on my part, and is mostly experimental; I do not push for the idea that i was necessarily used back then, as our safest bet is to go with the idea that it was entirely monophonic.

[faryafaraji]

Music by Farya Faraji, based on melodic folk motifs from Greece. This is another speculative attempt at reconstructing Ancient Greek music, this time using slightly different methodology than my other reconstructions. Whilst my other reconstructions are solely rooted in Ancient Greek sources and Ancient Greek music theory, I wanted to try a methodology of reverse-engineering by looking at modern folk Greek music and using its elements that are also attested in Ancient Greek music. The instruments are all from the soundscape of Ancient Greece: the aulos, the lyre, and a mantoura—the latter is a simple reed instrument from Crete, and such instruments are attested in Ancient Greece. I based this on motifs found across Crete, the Cyclades and Thrace, since they are the modern day regions that still use such reed instruments like in Ancient Greece, and therefore their sound is our best bet, in my opinion, at reverse-engineering the most probable usage of these instruments throughout the Greek world, given that they were ubiquitous throughout Greece back then. The melody is possible given what we know of the historical practice, with the usage of the Phrygian mode (what we call today the Dorian mode), although it’s not certain how folk melodies for dances were built, and whether they were ornamented in such a way especially before the Roman era, were ornamentation becomes more increasingly used.

The more speculative aspect I used is that of Greek Isokratima, a drone that supports the monophonic structure of the melody by switching from tonic to subtonic, one that is widely present in traditional Greek and Balkanic music today and has been for a few centuries now. This form of drone support is entirely speculative on my part, and is mostly experimental; I do not push for the idea that i was necessarily used back then, as our safest bet is to go with the idea that it was entirely monophonic.

[kostas]

As a Greek my self and especially from the city of Sparta, i feel very honoured! Thank you farya!

[asrnl]

As a Greek I absolutely LOVE your Ancient Greek/Byzantine music...Keep up the amazing work!

[lokilaufeyson]

Props to you for time travelling 2000+ years to record this 👌

[HistorywithCy]

"Eat well, for tonight we dine in Hades...."

Great track, thanks for posting!

[MrWario]

I am surprised by the name, since this is considered as typical Cretan music and not associated with the Peloponnese at all, at least today. Your interpretation and composition is awesome. Amazing!

[menanderofsagala]

I'm Indian, I was dancing to this like I was part of an ancient Greek wedding party

[weloveTM]

You never fail to impress with your epic ancient music. It's a time machine, I tell you!!!

[williamwray]

This song sounds like it would play over a joyous fight.
I'm sure the ancient Spartans would adore this

[Moneyaddthenmultiply]

This sounds historically real. Ancient Greece was colorful, full of rich painted temples, gorgeous clothing, intricate patterns, wild and beautiful and powerful and human.

[c.j.hernandez]

Xerxes has been real quiet since this dropped

[theiazoumpoulia]

Greetings from Sparta, Greece
awesome music for one more time

[kritikosofara]

As a Greek/Cretan im feelng lucky to found this channel.
Farya Faraji thank you for your time and the stuff.

[peter_-pdmh]

I get emotional of this song not only because I am from Sparta(Laconia specific). but because of t videos like that reminds us the huge ancient valuable culture of Greece

[nataliepeterman]

I left a whole half of my heart in Ancient Greece because of Assassins Creed Odyssey. This channel is magical!

[respectboy]

Athenians : "Pericles, The Spartans are outside the walls!"
Pericles : "Let's hope the walls will hold"
Spartans outside the walls of Athens :

[zilkadesabarros]

Toda criação de Farya é magnífica. Toca nosso corpo e mente. Plenifica nosso espírito e nos conduz ao passado remoto. Façanha genial. Felicitações. Grata. Saudações.

[alexion]

This was straight fire from the opening, had me literally clapping so hard my hand burned in the first 5 seconds lmao

[misteradam]

Great music. As a person with Armenian roots, I can say that this evokes certain feelings of nostalgia for the times when people lived on these lands and had such a culture. Thanks to national food, music and architecture, we can remember the very history of mankind through the grains of the culture of these people. With love from Russia!

[SpaceTorture]

La antigua Grecia
La cuna del conocimiento...
Agradecido con los dioses de su existencia y sus conocimientos


Me encanta toda tu musica y esta se ha convertido en mi pieza favorita, un saludo desde España