User:Doug Coldwell/Sandboxes/Sandbox 77

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since music was such a large part of Sappho's life and her poetry writtings, let's see if we can agree on what it would take to add a music section. I believe the section that I would like to have in the article relating to Sappho's association to music is a good springboard to work from to show that she is closely associated to ancient Greek string instruments, especially the kithara and the barbitos. Is there room for improvement - of course, there is always room for improvement. Could there be different or better references? Yes, I'm sure there can be. These I have already submitted are good starts and additional references to support these that can be added from such sources like what you are suggesting. Below is the Music section I propose to enter in the main article of Sappho that was taken out yesterday.

1473 woodcut of Boccaccio's depiction of Sappho playing kithara
1473 woodcut of Boccaccio's depiction of Sappho playing kithara

Sappho is closely associated with music,[1][2] especially string instruments like the kithara and the barbitos.[3][4] She was a woman of high social standing and composed songs that focused on the emotions.[5] Sappho often wrote poetry about ancient Greek string instruments like these.[6][7]

Giovanni Boccaccio compiled images of women notable and famous throughout history. One of his images was Sappho playing a kithara. Often Sappho is also depicted playing the barbitos, which has longer strings and a lower pitch.

The barbitos is also closely associated with the poet Alcaeus along with Sappho and the island of Lesbos,[8] her birth place. Here it is called a barmos. The music from this instrument was said to be the lyre for drinking parties[9] and is considered an invention of Terpander. Aristotle said that these string instruments were not for educational purposes but for pleasure only - depicted in much artwork showing Sappho playing these.[10]

  1. ^ Early accounts of Lesbian singers like Sappho
  2. ^ Background on Ancient Hellenic music instruments
  3. ^ The Barbitos in the Classical Period
  4. ^ "The Evolution of Ancient Greek Music in Byzantium"
  5. ^ JSTOR: Visualizing Poetry: An Early Representation of Sappho
  6. ^ Ancient Greek Music and Music Instruments
  7. ^ Perseus Encyclopedia
  8. ^ The evolution of ancient Greek music
  9. ^ "Polyhymnia" Explained
  10. ^ Knowledge Builders for Perseus - Music & Dance


First sentence: The additional references that you are suggesting speak of ancient Greek music and as you point out during the time of Sappho. There is probably text in certain of those that will associate Sappho to ancient string instruments, especially the string instruments of the kithara and the barbitos, as well as to her singing and her poetry writtings about these. This then backs up my first sentence which already has four (4) good references on these points.

Second sentence: The JSTOR reference gives details on this.

Third sentence: These two sources show she wrote poetry about string instruments - as well as does the first four references.

Fourth sentence and Fifth sentence: This is demonstrated in the image, however note that there are no Boccaccio footnotes. I don't believe anyone disbutes these statements. Interestingly, to me anyway, is that this woodcut image would be a much closer representation of Sappho than the "modern" pictures we now have in the article. As you have pointed out none of those images are from Sappho's lifetime - so maybe we should remove them from the article. These pictures all show a "modern depiction" of Sappho with the kithara whereas the woodcut representation is closer to her time period.

Sixth sentence The fact that the barbitos having longer strings and a lower pitch I don't believe is disputed. Sappho as depicted playing the barbitos can be shown in the gallery of pictures of Wikipedia Commons.

Seventh sentence: This is backed up with an excellent reference about ancient Greek music and poets associated with Sappho. The references you suggest would furnish the same information.

Eighth sentence: I don't believe this statement is disputed. It is already shown in many previous references.

Ninth sentence This is backed up with an excellent reference about ancient Greek dance and poets associated with Sappho. The references you suggest would furnish the same information. The part that it is an invention of Terpander I don't believe is disputed.

Tenth sentence The Aristotle statement I don't believe is disputed.

--Doug talk 14:33, 14 December 2007 (UTC)