Amoebaean singing

Amoebaean singing is a type of singing competition originating in Ancient Greece. In it, a first party sings according to a topic and verse structure of their choosing. A second singer then responds with the same verse structure and on a related topic. This repeats until one side concedes or a third party can determine the winner.

History

The form is believed to have been used by Greek shepherds to entertain themselves. Later, it would evolve into a judged competition, consisting of multiple rounds of singing between competitors. Competitors would be judged more favorably if they could continue a theme through multiple rounds.{{cite journal|journal=Oral Tradition|title=Theocritus and Oral Tradition|last=Pearce|first=J. B.|pages=63–64|volume=8|issue=1|url=https://journal.oraltradition.org/wp-content/uploads/files/articles/8i/4_pearce.pdf|date=March 1993|format=PDF|access-date=2021-09-07|archive-date=2021-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907170208/https://journal.oraltradition.org/wp-content/uploads/files/articles/8i/4_pearce.pdf|url-status=live}}

The poet Theocritus relied heavily on Amoebaean singing, with it becoming his and his successors' "hallmark", according to David M. Halperin.

Usage

Amoebaean singing can be seen in Theocritus' Idyll 5: The Goatherd and the Shepherd, in an exchange between the goatherd Comatas and the shepherd Lacon.{{cite web|url=http://www.theoi.com/Text/TheocritusIdylls2.html#5|title=THEOCRITUS, IDYLLS 5-11|publisher=Theoi|accessdate=2009-10-26| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091106120935/http://www.theoi.com/Text/TheocritusIdylls2.html| archivedate= 6 November 2009 | url-status= live}}

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Comatas

The Muses bear me greater love than Daphnis ere did see;

And well they may, fort’other day they had two goats for me.

Lacon

But Apollo loves me all as well, and an offering too have I,

A fine fat ram a-batt’ning; for Apollo’s feast draws nigh.

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References

Category:Ancient Greek music

Category:Singing competitions