Definition: Archaic choral lyric poetry was performed by choruses of both sexes at public religious festivals or major family functions. From the poet Alcman in the seventh century B.C. to Timotheos at the beginning of the fourth is the span of archaic choral lyric poetry.
Subgenres of choral lyric poetry were the marriage song (hymenaios), the dancing song, the lament or dirge (threnos), the paean of praise to a god, the maiden song (partheneion), the processional (prosodion), the hymn, and the dithyramb. A little later, praise for people (enkomion) and song at a party or symposium (skolion) were added.
The lyric poet wrote the poems and the music for the lyre accompaniment. A lyric poet could accompany himself on the lyre, although a choral lyric required the participation of a chorus. An elegiac poet, on the contrary, could not accompany himself because he could sing and play pipes at the same time.
Subgenres of choral lyric poetry were the marriage song (hymenaios), the dancing song, the lament or dirge (threnos), the paean of praise to a god, the maiden song (partheneion), the processional (prosodion), the hymn, and the dithyramb. A little later, praise for people (enkomion) and song at a party or symposium (skolion) were added.
The lyric poet wrote the poems and the music for the lyre accompaniment. A lyric poet could accompany himself on the lyre, although a choral lyric required the participation of a chorus. An elegiac poet, on the contrary, could not accompany himself because he could sing and play pipes at the same time.
