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Blue_Adept

(6,399 posts) Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:02 PM Apr 2016

Listen to a Song That Hasn't Been Heard For a Thousand Years

An ancient song repertory lost since the 11th century has been reconstructed by researchers from the University of Cambridge.

It’s called “Songs of Consolation,” and it was a medieval musical retelling of Roman philosopher Boethius’s magnum opus, The Consolation of Philosophy. Back then it was common practice to take classic works, such as those written by Horace and Virgil, and assign a melody to the texts. This was done to learn and ritualize the texts, which often consisted of love songs and laments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=79&v=PwAKPIUKAyM

Pretty neat and rather haunting in its own way.

http://gizmodo.com/listen-to-an-ancient-song-that-hasnt-been-heard-for-a-t-1772517106

11 replies

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Highlight:

Listen to a Song That Hasn't Been Heard For a Thousand Years (Original Post) Blue_Adept Apr 2016 OP

It's not the Ramones, but things haven't changed that much in all of that time. Gregorian Apr 2016 #1

That is AWESOME! HuckleB Apr 2016 #2

It's almost magical how music from centuries ago can be SO moving that closeupready Apr 2016 #3

They totally sampled Prince's Darling Nikki NightWatcher Apr 2016 #4

Beautiful...thank you for sharing AuntPatsy Apr 2016 #5

Lovely and incredibly awesome, Hortensis Apr 2016 #6

Very cool SCantiGOP Apr 2016 #7

!!!!!!!!!! allan01 Apr 2016 #8

It was beautiful. Thank you. jwirr Apr 2016 #9

That's so last millennium. mhatrw Apr 2016 #10

According to the 2000 year old man (Mel Brooks) pressbox69 Apr 2016 #11

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)

1. It's not the Ramones, but things haven't changed that much in all of that time.

Reply to Blue_Adept (Original post)

Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:11 PM

Apr 2016

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

2. That is AWESOME!

Reply to Blue_Adept (Original post)

Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:24 PM

Apr 2016

Thank you!

closeupready

(29,503 posts)

3. It's almost magical how music from centuries ago can be SO moving that

Reply to Blue_Adept (Original post)

Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:26 PM

Apr 2016

it brings contemporary listeners to tears, but some such music can do that. It's fun to read old stories, listen to old music or even old movies, and think to yourself, "if this work still has the artistic power to emotionally move people centuries later, then that is REALLY talent."

I guess that's kind of what humanities is about. K&R

NightWatcher

(39,343 posts)

4. They totally sampled Prince's Darling Nikki

Reply to Blue_Adept (Original post)

Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:28 PM

Apr 2016

AuntPatsy

(9,904 posts)

5. Beautiful...thank you for sharing

Reply to Blue_Adept (Original post)

Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:29 PM

Apr 2016

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)

6. Lovely and incredibly awesome,

Reply to Blue_Adept (Original post)

Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:43 PM

Apr 2016

thank you also, Blue Adept. I looked up Boethius and his "Consolation of Philosophy," and the poignant quality of this music is explained. Imagine someone long ago creating it, and now it lives on.

In the Consolation of Philosophy, written in a form of an imaginary dialogue with philosophy, Boethius argues that there is a higher power and that all the suffering has higher purpose. According to Boethius, the universe is ruled by divine love and true happiness can be achieved not through power and money but by turning to otherworldly virtues. This interpretation perfectly fitted with the Christian doctrine of humility and played an important role in the later Christian philosophy of consolation according to which suffering from evil will be rewarded in the afterlife.