Forums - Print Page

Forums
https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl
AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1401061095

Message started by Brian on 05/26/14 at 00:38:15

Title: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Brian on 05/26/14 at 00:38:15

When Nero fiddled while Rome burned, what tunes did he play?
Does anyone here know of a recording of Roman melodies from this era?

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Lon on 05/26/14 at 01:16:39

Well, there were no fiddles until about fifteen CENTURIES after Nero. He probably played what you would call a "lyre" if there is any truth at all to the legend of him playing music as Rome burned.

Here is an article about the ancient Roman music:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_ancient_Rome

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Brian on 05/26/14 at 01:28:25

Thank you, Lon. :)

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Lon on 05/26/14 at 01:54:59

You're welcome. Fascinating to see they had organs fueled by the compression of water to force air into the pipes and other relatively complex instruments!

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Brian on 05/26/14 at 03:53:34

Yes, the Hydraulis. I was much surprised by that!

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Brian on 05/26/14 at 04:00:30

Some cithara recordings are here http://homoecumenicus.com/Ioannidis-Ancient-Cithara.htm
I thought the sound samples showed an instrument with a very pretty sound. Quite sweet and musical.

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Lon on 05/26/14 at 04:18:58

Brian wrote on 05/26/14 at 03:53:34:

Yes, the Hydraulis. I was much surprised by that!

Those clever Greeks, building on Egyptian knowledge and extending it with mechanical brilliance.

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by marky on 05/26/14 at 22:58:44

Not sure I`d like to be in earshot while Nero strummed.
I might be getting my Emperors mixed up but wasn`t it Nero who wrote and starred in his own plays. Apparently they were so long and bad that the doors would be locked to stop anyone getting out. :) ....and a death occured during one...or so it`s said.

It`s also said he twiddled his thumbs while Rome burned, a reference that he instigated/allowed it so he could rebuild in his name.

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Brian on 05/28/14 at 02:06:49

I have been in the dictionary. "Fiddled" while Rome burned may not have referred to music.

Title: Re: What Tunes Did Nero Fiddle?
Post by Lon on 05/28/14 at 03:36:45

Yes, but you have to figure: how long has this story been and it has come down in lots of languages, probably starting with Latin. Just because in English "fiddle" has other meanings, what is the original word, and does that have similar meanigns as well (unlikely in my opinion).