Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
⚖️ Law or custom 🎵 Solo music piece 🗺️ A province
nomos

nomos

9.9
A solo instrumental piece in ancient Greek music
  • noun
  • /ˈnōˌmäs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : nomos
  • The ancient musician performed a nomos on the lyre during the festival.

Examples

  • A reconstructed nomos was played at the museum's special exhibition on ancient music.

  • The ancient Greeks often performed a nomos during festivals.

  • Scholars study the structure of the nomos to understand Greek musical traditions.

  • A beautiful nomos can evoke deep emotions.

  • The ancient musician performed a nomos on the lyre during the festival.

  • A reconstructed nomos was played at the museum's special exhibition on ancient music.

  • Scholars study the structure of the nomos to understand Greek musical traditions.

How Long

sonata
9 7.8
rhapsody
  • Specialized
7 7.2
piece
∞ 3.0
nomos
  • Archaic
9.9
tune
327 1.0
motif
  • Specialized
3 6.7

Surface Forms

nomos singular
nomoi plural

Etymology

Nomos was also the name for a musical piece in ancient Greece — a short solo tune played in a set way. Because the root means 'custom' or 'rule', a musical nomos is a tune that follows a traditional pattern, so think of it as a fixed musical 'set'.