Terpander

Active first half of the 7th century BCE

An ancient Greek poet-musician traditionally associated with the development of music for the kithara. Accounts of his life are fragmentary and combine historical and legendary traditions.

Antiquity–5th c. · Ancient Greek & Roman

Musical context

Ancient Greek & Roman · Antiquity–5th c.

In ancient Greece, music belonged to religious festivals, theater, education, and civic life; Roman musical culture drew on Greek traditions alongside other Mediterranean practices. Thinkers such as Plato debated music’s place in society, while surviving works by figures such as Mesomedes offer glimpses of its sound. Later European scholars inherited Greek theoretical writings, although little ancient music survived in notation. Explore the era →

Related glossary terms

Ancient Greek modes Aulos Ethos Kithara Tetrachord

Pieces

No pieces by Terpander have been added to the catalog yet.