Ensemble Melpomen attempts to revive ancient Greek music from the Classical period (5th and 6th century BC.) through intense research and reconstruction. For almost 20 years the musician and musical archaeologist Conrad Steinmann and the instrument maker Paul J. Reichlin have worked together on the reconstruction of musical instruments and music from the period. With the use of instruments and their original playing techniques, in addition to the ancient Greek language
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Ensemble Melpomen attempts to revive ancient Greek music from the Classical period (5th and 6th century BC.) through intense research and reconstruction. For almost 20 years the musician and musical archaeologist Conrad Steinmann and the instrument maker Paul J. Reichlin have worked together on the reconstruction of musical instruments and music from the period. With the use of instruments and their original playing techniques, in addition to the ancient Greek language, the everyday musical life of Ancient Greece is audible again, although the original music of that time has been lost for ever. Based in Switzerland, the Ensemble Melpomen is led by Conrad Steinmann, other members include Arianna Savall (soprano vocals, bárbitos), Massimo Cialfi (rhómbos, týmpanon, krótala, sálpinx, kýmbala Giovanni Cantarini (tenor vocals, kithára) and Luiz Alves da Silva (countertenor vocals). The award-winning CD "Melpomen: Ancient Greek Music", released in 2005, is the first musical document of the ensemble. The meticulous study of original ancient instruments in the museums of London, Paestum, Copenhagen, Athens, Korinth, Vravróna, Polýgyros and Thessaloniki form the basis for the rebuilding of these instruments. Also vase paintings from the time provide a significant amount of picture material for the analysis of these instruments. A further important source on the doorway to sounds is the language of Greek lyrics. Those characteristics with accents and rhythmical assertiveness allow us to draw conclusions on how the shape and moulding of the music must have been. These elements are brought in line with the possibilities and tonalities of the used instruments.
