Ancient Roman Worship Music
Location and Chronology
Written Sources
Article on
Roman Music with quotations from ancient authors
Images
Musical Objects: Idiophones
Musical Objects: Membranophones
Musical Objects: Chordophones
Musical Objects: Aerophones
Tibia:
original and reconstruction
Tibia:
from Nijmegen, Museum Valkhof
Hydraulis:
(250 - 300 CE) from Colonia Aquincum [Budapest]
Cornu:
Den Haag, Gemeentemuseum
Lituus:
Bonn, Rheinische Landesmuseum\
Lituus: (2C
- 1C BCE) from Malborka, presently held in Poznan, National Museum
Musical Representations: Idiophones
Wall-painting
of female crotala-player: from Pompeii
Musical Representations: Membranophones
Wall
painting of tympanum-player:
Musical Representations: Chordophones
Statuette
of a lute-player:
Wall
painting of a kithara-player:
Wall-painting
of a lyre-player:
Musical Representations: Aerophones
Tibia
Tomb Wall
Painting with male double-tibia player: Tarquinia, 490 BCE
Tomb Wall
Painting with male double-tibia player: Tarquinia, 490 BCE
Tomb
Wall Painting with male double-tibia player, detail of mouthpiece: Tarquinia,
490 BCE
Vase with
female double-tibia player: 5C BCE, presently held in the Musee de Bruxelles
Statuette
of tibia-player:
Statuette
of double-tibia player:
Statuette
of tibia-player wearing a phorbeia: Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum
Bronze
statue of centaur playing the double-tibia: 3C - 1C BCE
Hydraulis (Hydraulic organ)
Coin
with Hydraulis: Contorniat from Nero's reign with text LAURENTI NICA
["Victory to Lawrence"], Cabinet des Medailles
Coin
with Hydraulis: Trajan's reign [98 - 117 CE], Leiden, Koninklijk
Penningkabinet
Coin
with Hydraulis: Valentinian's reign [424 - 455 CE] with text PLACEAS PETRI +
two boys operating airpumps, Cabinet des Medailles
Oil Lamp
in the shape of Hydraulis: Copenhagen, National Museum
Oil
Lamp in the shape of Hydraulis: Carthage, National Museum
Mosaic with
hydraulis- and cornu-players: Hadrian's reign [138-177 CE], Trier, Villa of
Nennig
Decoration
plate of Hydraulis from Pompeii: Naples, Archeological Museum
Hydraulis:
Sketch of the Colonia Aquincum Organ (250 - 300 CE)
Syrinx
Wall
painting with syrinx-player:
Tuba
Relief of
military tuba [i.e., trumpet]-player: Trajan's Column
Photograph of re-enactment of
Roman military music with tuba-player:
Cornu
Relief of
military cornu-players: Trajan's Column
Musical Representations: Singing
Representation
of female solo singing:
Musical Representations: Dancing
Representation
of female crotala-player dancing: from Pompeii
Musical Representations: Mixed
Mosaic of
shell-, double-tibia, finger cymbals- and tympanum-payers: from Pompeii
Mosaic of shell-,
double-tibia, finger symbals- and tympanum-players: from Pompeii
Audiofiles
- Two
tubae: [wav]
- Pompa
Circensis: Processional for Etruscan aulos, fistula, tuba, tympana, and
cymbalum [wav]
- Legio
Hispana: Processional for tuba, tympana, and utriculus [wav]
- Silvanus:
Instrumental piece for two fistulae, tympana, crotola, and animal horn [mp3]
- Bacchanalia:
Instrumental piece for askaules (bagpipe), tympana and cymbalum [mp3]
- Mare
Nostrum: Instrumental piece for lyra [mp3]
Studies
General / History
Lyrics
Instruments
Theory
Bibliography
Books
Landels, John. Music in Ancient Greece and Rome.
London: Routledge, 1999.
Wellesz, Egon, ed. Ancient and Oriental Music. London:
Oxford University Press, 1957.
Articles
