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Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 20 2016, 10:05 AM

I would post this in theory but there's greater chance of it being seen here.......

Anyhow, turns out that both the Dorian and Phrygian modes in their original Greek derived incarnations are exactly the opposite to their modern incarnations



Just to make things confusing, eh?

Posted by: Phil66 Mar 20 2016, 01:59 PM

Thanks Ben mate!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was already totally discombobulated now it's x10

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Mar 20 2016, 05:38 PM

It will probably be all different again in another 2000 years

Posted by: klasaine Mar 21 2016, 04:34 PM

Very true.
The musical alphabet used to start on A ... and had no flats or sharps (never mind that it was also 'just' and not equal temperament). Over time it adjusted around to C (with no sharps or flats). So in keeping with the 'modes' thing, that original A to A scale would have sounded like a natural minor scale (aeolian mode) to our modern ears.
*It's important to note that our modern perception of major and minor, especially in western countries, is relatively recent. Our maj and min system has barely an analog in ancient greek and roman music or in many other cultures even today.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Mar 21 2016, 07:11 PM

Interesting points.

I tend to think of music as a language just as much as speech - both change over the years to accommodate the needs of the people using it. These days. speech is written down a lot which probably tends to slow down change, but I suspect the majority of musicians alive don't write anything down ...