Meanings of Greek Names
of Notes and Tetrachords

Note Names

Hypatê:

Highest, farthest. This refers to the position on the lyre, not to pitch (which the Greeks only rarely characterized as "high" or "low").

Likhanos:

Licking (finger), i.e. forefinger.

Mesê:

Middle.

Nêtê:

Lowest, nearest. (See Hypatê above)

Paramesê:

Beside Mesê

Paranêtê:

Beside Nêtê

Proslambanomenos:

Taken in addition, i.e., the "added note."

Tritê:

Third (from top of Tetrachord).

Tetrachord Names

Diezeugmenôn:

Disjoined.

Hypatôn:

Highest, farthest. (See Hypatê above)

Hyperbolaiôn:

Exceeding, going beyond, at zenith.

Mesôn:

Middle.

Synnêmenôn:

Conjoined.

Return to Greek Esoteric Music index

Return to Biblioteca Arcana page

Send comments about this page
Last updated: Sun May 9 23:09:57 EDT 1999