Theorie der musischen Kunste der Hellenen: Volume 1, Griechische Rhythmik

Rudolf Westphal (1826 92) originally studied theology at the University of Marburg before turning to classical philology and comparative linguistics. He learnt Sanskrit and Arabic and took a keen interest in Indo-European languages and Semitic grammar. In the late 1850s and early 1860s he joined his friend and fellow philologist August Rossbach (1823-98) at the University of Breslau (Wroclaw). This multi-volume work on ancient Greek metre and music resulted from their collaboration. Reissued here is the revised third edition published in four parts between 1885 and 1889. Volume 1 (1885) is given over to Westphal’s study of Greek rhythm, noting the contributions made by both ancient and modern thinkers. As in his 1883 Musik des griechischen Alterthumes (also reissued in this series), he pays particular attention to the fourth-century philosopher Aristoxenus, presenting the latter’s theories on rhythm.