Theorie der musischen Künste der Hellenen

Rudolf Westphal (1826–92) originally studied theology at the University of Marburg before turning to classical philology and comparative linguistics. He learnt Sanskrit and Arabic and took a keen interest in Indo-European languages and Semitic grammar. In the late 1850s and early 1860s he joined his friend and fellow philologist August Rossbach (1823–98) at the University of Breslau (Wrocław). This multi-volume work on ancient Greek metre and music resulted from their collaboration. Reissued here is the revised third edition published in four parts between 1885 and 1889. Volume 2 (1886) is devoted to Westphal's thorough account of melody and harmony in Greek music. He provides a general introduction to the development of Greek melody through history as well as an account of Aristoxenus' theory on intervals. The latter part of the volume focuses on the scholarship relating to harmonies and scales.