Ancient Greek Choir Workshop

Bettina Joy de Guzman, musician and Ph.D. Classics candidate from University of Reading, will lead and accompany everyone with her lyre on a musical journey from 2nd century BC Delphi, to 2nd century AD Tralles in Asia Minor, and Hadrian’s Roman Empire.

No musical background is needed - just a desire to connect with the ancient world through singing ancient Greek songs in joyful unison! We will attempt portions of three hymns by Mesomedes of Crete (Hymn to the Muse, Hymn to the Sun, and Hymn to Calliope and Apollo), and the song of Seikilos, using transliterated notations and reconstruction from Documents of Ancient Greek Music by Pohlmann and West, as well as the first part of the Delphic Paean by Athenaios Athenaiou, using transliterations and reconstructions by Armand D’Angour and Barnaby Brown.

Guests will receive the music ahead of time to familiarize themselves, and after a very brief introduction, Bettina will help with standardized pronunciation and sight-reading, measure by measure. The goal is to sing a song, or a portion of a song, every fifteen minutes, then sing them once through at the end of the session, and still have time for refreshments! There will be time for Q and A after the group concert!

Musicians, classicists and ancient historians at all levels welcome!

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