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Saturday, 1 November 2014

#43.
Long before Toscanini or Furtwängler, Bernstein or Dudamel, there was Pherekydes of Patrae, known in ancient Greece as the ‘Giver of Rhythm’. The first reported use of a baton in a performance dates back to 709 BC, during which the leader, "Pherekydes of Patrae, giver of rhythm" had,"...stationed himself in the centre and had placed himself on a high seat, waving a golden staff, and the players on the flute and cythara were...placed in a circle around him...now when Pherekydes with his golden staff gave the signal, all the art-experienced men began in one and the same time...". Which art is being referred here?

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