Euterpe School of Ancient Music: Aulos, Lyre, and Frame Drum Workshops
Welcome to the Euterpe School of Ancient Music
This school focuses on playing techniques for the aulos and tibia, as well as the lyre, the most common instruments across ancient European and Mediterranean societies. The instructors are two internationally celebrated specialists: a aulos specialist and Nikos Xanthoulis for the lyre. While learning these instruments, participants will also investigate various rhythmic approaches alongside frame-drum teacher and music archaeologist Mirco Mungari.
Euterpe School welcomes every musician — instrumentalists, singers, and composers — as well as scholars with an interest in ancient compositions and instruments, including those who want to create "new ancient music." Its goal is to extend beyond the usual circle of classicists and music archaeologists. The program especially welcomes students who are undertaking their first serious study of an instrument, mainly players from conservatoires, universities, jazz schools, and traditional music schools. The course also welcomes vocalists who want to perform ancient texts accompanied by the aulos or lyre; players of the ancient aulos or lyre who want to work with other musicians; and composers interested in writing music that uses ancient instruments and modes for theater, film, and music festivals.
The aulus course addresses three major areas
The tutor will provide participants with tools they can use later to refine their aulos playing. A comprehensive method uses three focus areas:
- Physical aspects of playing: includes embouchure, circular breathing, and breath control. These are critical for creating a steady, good-quality tone. The instructor offers many hints for developing stamina and strength.
- Polyphony and hand independence: taught through various drills that help each hand work on different material.
- Reed manipulation: teaches you how to maintain reeds and keep them properly balanced.
There will be plenty of time for individual questions and particular needs.
The lyre course breaks down into three fields
- Building solid technique: This uses the "Ancient Greek Lyre Learning Method," a 2018 bilingual publication in Greek and English from iWrite Publications in Greece.
- Modes and their ethos: explore the moral character of each mode, specifically how to use modes for accompanying sung story-telling with the lyre.
- Composing with the lyre
You do not need any previous lyre experience to join the course. Prior knowledge of basic music theory could help, but is not required.
Frame-drum, rhythm, and prosody lessons
Mirco Mungari manages instruction about rhythms, prosody, and accompanying with the frame drum (or "tympanon"). Scholars can request either fundamental or advanced frame-drum technique, which is taught in multiple styles. Each student can play their own drum or borrow one from the teacher as needed.
Program structure and live performances
The first part of the program focuses on learning and practicing these instruments. In the second section all three teachers will present live concerts at a few archaeological sites near Tarquinia. Everyone enrolled in the Euterpe 2020 school is allowed them participate in the performances should they choose to do so.
First section (four-day plan) All classes, workshops, and relaxed conversations are designed to generate an inspiring atmosphere. That part of the course also includes:
- A possible workshop led by Marco Sciascia, for building the Euterpe lyre kit to anybody who needs one on the spot
- Short educational sessions covering specific topics in music archaeology
- Evening jam sessions or rehearsals leading to the shows
The entire session is written to get participants excited and ready so that, once back home, they can continue to grow as players and creators of ancient music—aided year-round by strong ties with other learners.
As the instructors point out, "there are no masters yet!"
Instructor backgrounds — Read about each tutor's path
- Aulos tutor (Callum Armstrong): First began serious aulos work in 2015. He set to developing reeds in a historically-aware way, enabling a style that could involve circular breathing. To create his method both technical and musical, Mr. Armstrong worked alongside academics such as Stefan Hagel, Armand D’Angour, and Caleb Simone, along with reed expert Robin Howell. Between 2016 and 2018 he contributed to the Acting Touring Company production of Aeschylus’ "Suppliant Women," then to Colombia Barnard's staging of Euripides' "Herakles" in 2019. More recently he developed a polyphonic technique the union of two-pipe and three-pipe Scottish smallpipes as well recent composed new music for them. (Link is https://youtu.be/4hOK7bU0S1Y?t=497)
- Nikos Xanthoulis (lyre): Spent 25 years as first trumpet with the Greek National Opera orchestra, then worked as the Artistic main of the Public Broadcasting Orchestras and Choirs from 2014 keep dreaming 2015. As composer and artistic performer, he as been presented his work in over 30 nations. Nikos holds a role with assistant Researcher at the Academy of Athens, keeps an honorary position with Artistic Consultant at what in his mind of the Greek deep inside best rest and guest contributes with other members connected to the first term “Correspondent Member” in Archaeological list to sound Institute concerning lands where lyra Apollo ruled: The Republic kept regarding true events about ancient four week theater history once considered “Children’s opera which originally of delivered. Period drama,” before rewriting tracks showing for after only known post‑1940 Greek productions. During Research teaching at prize worthy discoveries internationally leading as he refined entire technical new approach model from pottery frescos details alongside actual measurement found written within Ancient note only mathematics remains most priorly untouched for performing meaning ancient songs? For work that did exactly prize himself an appointment thanks offering honoring given about 2012 update 2013 high then the following: from 2017 how 2018 full years funded via Kress Lectureship used good toward Ancient Greek origin sequence researched building songs from modern fresh historical models.) (Here is performance him interpret myths in playback sounds from text at given internet digital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whV7nR_uOMA)
- Mirco Mungari (frame drum): Kia After classical major learn performing expertise oriented; his focus shifted onto areas rooted folk practice delivering cultural society memories related southern schools of Italian program study finger drum ability currently main field then separately work into Oud musicians classical from besides type Eastern instruction layers includes for Türki have Arab too knowledge much technique adapted focus from Macedonian tapped.” With researcher bringing stage sound heritage using position best sets with creation flow together project groups includes works taking pulse slowly better pulse full breath context meant title he joins percussion percussive instrument player blends wood double piper composition mix content than out there you partner alongside all whom you'd simply worth repeat again through his school teaches memory track hear own." View his performing here: https://youtu.be/P1tGLvtQpjY/in sound playing world large: now hear your history echo under revival drum makers artisans."
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