dithyramb

dithyramb

dithyramb , in ancient Greece, hymn to the god Dionysus, choral lyric with exchanges between the leader and the chorus. It arose, probably, in the extemporaneous songs of the Dionysiac festivals and was developed (according to tradition, by Arion ) into the literary form to be found, for example, in the dithyrambs of Bacchylides . In its later development by such poets as Philoxenus and Timotheus it became freer in its meter and more musical. The tragedy seems to have come out of the dithyramb, but the dithyramb was also cultivated after tragedy was invented.

Bibliography: See A. W. Pickard-Cambridge, Dithyramb, Tragedy, and Comedy (1927, repr. 1962).

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"dithyramb." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"dithyramb." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-dithyram.html

"dithyramb." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-dithyram.html

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Dithyramb

Dithyramb, hymn originally in honour of the Greek god Dionysus, and then of other gods. It was performed by a chorus of 50 and would normally relate some incident in the life of the deity to whom it was addressed. The leader of the chorus later became the solo Protagonist, and the ensuing dialogue between him and the rest of the chorus may have helped in the development of early drama.

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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Dithyramb.html

PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Dithyramb.html

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dithyramb

dithyramb, a lyric poem in a lofty style with a flute accompaniment in the Phrygian mode originally antistrophic and sung in honour of Bacchus. Later dithyrambs were monostrophic and could be addressed to other gods.

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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-dithyramb.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-dithyramb.html

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dithyramb

dithyramb Greek choric hymn in honour of Dionysus (Bacchus) XVII; inflated discourse XIX. — L. dīthyrambus — Gr. dīthúrambos, of unkn. orig.
So dithyrambic XVII.

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T. F. HOAD. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-dithyramb.html

T. F. HOAD. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-dithyramb.html

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dithyramb

dithyramb (from Gr. dithyrambos). In ancient Greece an intoxicated song in honour of the god Dionysus; in modern usage applied to a comp. of wild, passionate character.

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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-dithyramb.html

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "dithyramb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-dithyramb.html

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dithyramb

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"dithyramb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"dithyramb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-dithyramb.html

"dithyramb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-dithyramb.html

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