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orion-list RE: Origin of stress notation in recording downbeat in Ritual Circumambulations?



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Dr. Altman,

Is there possibly a common origin for both Hebrew stress and durational
notation and the thesis  arsis of greek poetry?

Does stress notation record the downbeat of ancient religious round dances
and songs sung while circumambulating the altar or the threshing floor?
[See the account of Abraham's circumambulation of the altar in Jubilees or
accounts of the Egyptian Sed Festival].

I speculate that the greek word Poema  is related to ritual
circumambulation.     The greek word orchestra also intimates a prayer
circle.  [For the Prayer circle in Hebrew Temple worship see
Psalm 24  dr].

The greek word poema  means to make, to do, compose [related to thesis fr.
greek tithenai]

poiema, poema,  fr. poiein

sanskrit cinoti   he gathers,  heaps up,  piles in order

this brings to mind  the circumambulation of the threshing floor  where the
grain was threshed and gathered with rhythmic walking.

Thesis fr. greek tithenai can be taken to mean downbeat,  the placing of the
foot in time with the chant.

Thesis Fr. Greek  act of placing,  act of laying down a position,
proposition,  downbeat of the foot in keeping time.

I have found your article most enlightening.

kind regards,

Randall Larsen
University of Hawaii at Manoa
larsenr@hawaii.edu




For private reply, e-mail to "Randall Larsen" <rlars@aloha.net>
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