The Choruses of Sophocles's Antigone. With Music by C. F.
Abdy Williams. (Breitkopf and Haertel.)—In a learned and detailed introduction, Mr. Williams gives the principles upon which he has reconstructed this Greek music. For this setting, used at Bradfield College in their production of the "Antigone," aims at representing as nearly as possible the music of Athens. In spite of a great citation of authorities, we fail to gather clearly one thing,—can this music really be considered more like what was heard by Greeks than would be the reconstruction of Beethoven by an intelligent Chinese from modern text-books of the principles of music ? If this music is really like what tho Athenians listened to, we can only say with the Parisian master of the ballet who, when Gliick told him the Greeks had no gavottes, remarked, " Alors us 4taient bien misgrables." Becs.uso the Greeks were highly developed in some directions, there is no reason why they may not have been musically barbarous.
Previous page
