Amelia, Ryan, and Summer's Blog Post

Music from Ancient Olympic Games





The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were much like they are today. They are a series of athletic competitions held for representatives of various city-states of Ancient Greece held in honor of Zeus. The exact origins of the Games are shrouded in myth and in legend but records indicate that they began in 776 B.C. in Olympia in Greece. The Olympic Games were huge until 393 A.D. when they were suppressed by Theodesius I as part of the campaign to make Christianity a state religion. The games, still much like today, were held every four years. The time became known as olympiad. Because there were wars at the time there was a Olympic Truce so that the contendors could travel safely. The winners recieved wreaths of laurel leaves and today they win medals. Laurel wreaths has interlocking branches and leaves of bay laurel. In the ancient greek mythology Apolo is represented wearing a Laurel Wreath on his head. The games became a political tool for city-states to show dominance

over their rivals. Politicians would announce political alliances at the Games, and in time of war, priests would offer sacrifices to the Gods for victory. The Games were also used to spread Hellenistic culture throughout the Mediterranean. A differenece between the Olympics then and now is that in Ancient times the Olympics featured religious celebrations and artistic competitions. There was a temple on the site of Olympia, which was dedicated to Zeus, held a gold and ivory statue of the king of the Gods. It was created by the greatest Greek sculptor, Pheidias, it stood 42 feet high, and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Olympic Games then had fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete (although a woman named, Bilistiche, is also mentioned as a winner). As long as they met the criteria, athletes from any country or city-state could compete. The Olympics were always held in Olympia as opposed to moving to different locations like the present day Olympics. Their is one major common ground between ancient and present day Olympics, the victorious athletes are honored, feted, and praised. Their deeds are heralded and chronicled for future generations to appreciate their accomplishments. A very different part of the Olympic Games in ancient times from now is that they had artistic competitions as well as sports. Art Competitions formed part of the modern olympic games during its early years, from 1912 to 1952. This is the kind of music played during the Ancient Olympic Games. The Olympic Games were a big deal then and they still are today.

My first post!

Hi, my name is Amelia Cole. This will be my first blog post for my class Music Appreciation. So far we have listened to the time periods Late 20th Century more popular music (1950's-present day), Early 20th Century like Jazz,  Romantic/Impressionistic/Nationalistic (1825-1900), Classical Period (1750-1825), Baroque Period (1600-1750), Renaissance (1450-1600), Medieval (900-1450), and Ancient Greek Roman music. My class has also gone into specific details of the elements of music. We have spoken about rhythm, melody, harmony, and texture. Texture also includes discussing the Monophonic or one sound, Polyphonic or multiple melodies at once, and homophonic which is the primary melody with a supporting background.

My favorite thing we listened to this year was the Jazz from the Early 20th century. I liked the Jazz portion the best because Jazz can be sad or happy. It always gives you a certain impression. I think that Jazz players have to have a lot of skill to make you feel that way by the way they play their instruments or sing. When I looked up the exact definition of jazz it said, "jazz is not the result of choosing a tune, but an ideal that is created first in the mind, inspired by ones passion and willed next in playing music." I feel like Jazz music is more of a language, sometimes it is intimate, and other times loud and wild, but it is always layered with experience and life. Did you know that Jazz is not written down in books and websites or even written down on sheet music?

Jazz was born out of African American communities in southern United States. There are also many variations of jazz including, dixieland, big-band swing, bebop, free jazz, Latin jazz fusions, Afro-cuban, acid jazz, hip-hop, and nu jazz. 

Jazz can be any kind of texture, it could have only a sax playing, or many playing at once. The instruments flowing together create a beautiful harmony and melody that you and I would love to either listen to when you are feeling tired, or happy, or anything between. The rhythm can vary throughout jazz music depending on what is being played.                                                                       

So far I have really enjoyed this class. I like learning all about music. Now when I hear a song on the radio I find myself actually looking for things like the rhythm, texture, melody, and harmony. I enjoy listening to many different variations of music now.