The Songs of Aristophanes

ISBN-13: 9780198149446 / Angielski / Twarda / 1997 / 608 str.

L. P. E. Parker

Opis

Aristophanes' comedies were as much musical as dramatic performances. The scores from these performances are lost, and the only way of recovering a sense of what the Athenian audience experienced is to study the rhythms of Aristophanes' poetry. His lyric verse covers a wide range of styles--from popular song to parody of tragedy. in this book, L.P.E. Parker provides a full text, with scansion, of the surviving plays' lyrics, and an introduction to the different rhythms used by Aristophanes, their origins, and literary associations. Parker emphasizes the role played by lyric meter in dramatic architecture and distinguishes the different levels of musical style. In this way, Parker illustrates meter's centrality in Aristophanes' dramatic art and satire.

Recenzje

The explanatory text is highly readable because of its refreshingly low amount of footnotes. Important quotations and bibliographical references are integrated into the text, giving the impression of a lively discussion ... Parker incorporates her scholarly knowledge into the discussion and evaluates opposing views only where absolutely vital. She offers sensitive observations and readings without ever exceeding the self-imposed limits.