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History
History
Analyzing the evolution of music systems is a very difficult task, as whatever may be said, suggested or written, there is no way that we can be positive about the actual music played, composed or improvised when speaking about ancient music.
Studying civilizations that have remained "stable" over the centuries (therefore not the Western European), Musicology suggests that the firt music systems must have started from the Single-Interval music system.
An interval needs 2 tones. This system was merely 2 tones with a possible distance of a whole tone between them, therefore a 2nd Major.
But this doesn't have to confuse us. 2 notes may vary considering the acoustic range, producing many variations. It's just the interval that is one.
Evolution resulted to the Pentatonic System.
The tones of the Pentatonic System are generated by 5th Perfect steps, transferred afterwards to a single Octave.
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The pentatonic mode's main characteristic is that all notes can be heard together without producing annoying dissonances.
In the interval order of the above Major Pentatonic Mode we notice the big 3rd minor steps between E-G and A-C.
If each step is filled with one tone, then we have various 7Tonic scales.
So, the evolution of the 5tonic brings up the 7tonic system.
Unlike 5tonics, the 7tonic material can not be heard together without producing annoying dissonances. This happens because of the semintones that are now present.
We are still talking about monophonic music systems. Polyphony and Omophony (harmony) are not yet present.
The various 7tonic modes produce melodies (horisontal movement) and are distinguished by their different qualities.
Around and inside Ancient Greece, there were many modes that were part of the Modal System of the era.
From this point, we refer to Ancient Greek Music.
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We definetly have to clear various issues:
1) The Modes indicated above have nothing to do with the present names.
2) In Ancient Greece theory, modes are defined descending.
3) Tones and Notes are in no case relevant to a specific pitch as they are now.
Think of modes more as an interval order than a specific scale. This is a very common situation when we study vocal music.
4) Tuning back then is not what we are used to now, and tuning can make music experienced totally differently.
5) We may know "what", but we don't know "how". In other words, we may know the material, but not the procedures used to create music.
So, be very careful when listening to music suggested as "ancient".
There were alterations considering handling of a mode. There were not only diatonic passes, but also chromatic and quarter-tone ones. A well-known example is the Tetrachordon interval and the various combinations to fill it.
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The note indicated as "-" is between a semitone.
Of course, there is not only one combination for each of the three types.
Roman music History did not bring much evolution to music other than inheriting and reproducing the Ancient Greek legacy.
Byzantine history exceeds the purpose of my music pages.
From this point, we refer to Western European Middle Ages Music.
Having completed the history portion of the Music Systems and can proceed to the Modal page, describing the Western European Modal System.