58 What Did the World's First Pop Star Sound like? | Euripides and Ancient Music w/ Claire Catenaccio

Ancient Greece Declassified

What did ancient music sound like? In this episode, you will hear three songs that are over 2000 years old! Few people in the world today know more about ancient music than our guest in this episode. Claire Catenaccio is an assistant professor of classics at Georgetown University who specializes in the study of ancient drama and its modern reception. Her recent book "Monody in Euripides" explores monody – namely solo actor's song – in the tragedies of Euripides. Her scholarship is informed by her experience as a director and historical consultant in many modern productions of ancient Greek theater plays.

Contents of the episode, with timestamps:

[02:07] What evidence do we have for ancient music?

[13:05] What kind of musical notation did the ancient Greeks use?

[13:51] The Song of Seikilos (oldest surviving song with musical score)

[20:30] What the aulos (the main musical instrument on stage) sounded like

[23:21] The origins of music in Greek tragedy

[31:30] Cash prizes and the professionalization of acting/singing

[34:45] The incredible popularity of Euripides' new music

[37:20] How and Why Euripides' "Orestes" completely rewrites Aeschylus' "Eumenides"

[52:30] What Euripides' songs sounded like (Electra's monody from Euripides' "Orestes")

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