The Bacchius Fragment: A Critical Edition

Abstract

Among the treatises on ancient music theory transmitted in the course of the manuscript tradition, a short excerpt stemmed from Bacchius’ Eisagōgē technēs mousikēs is located in seven medieval manuscripts, usually known as the ‘Bacchius fragment’, edited by Ruelle in 1875. The present paper investigates the manuscript tradition of the Bacchius fragment, dates the terminus ante quem of its compilation and restores its archetype; ultimately the Bacchius fragment is presented in a new critical edition with an English translation and commentary.