Whereas the composition exists generally in written musical notation, the improvisation is caused by spontaneous process of making music with unfixed notes or without any notation. There is no doubt that the earlier the age was, the less notation system was developed and improvisation was practiced more. Ancient music historically covers the music from the invention of letters until the medieval times and regionally the music from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel and Greece. The music of each region had different musical characteristics but the tendency of improvisation was common according to the historical reconstruction. It would be well-matched for the brilliant lyre with a bull head from Mesopotamia to accompany the Epic of Gilgamesh. It is difficult to reconstruct the ancient Egypt music because the text material of the music is insufficient. The reconstructed instrument could bring the sound of the instrument and it often makes the pseudo-music, which comes from the imagination of composers or scholars. Many improvised Israelite songs are orally transmitted. One of the famous examples is Schema Israel, which reflects their religious confession. In comparison to other ancient musics, the ancient Greek music remains the most generous archeological evidence. The reconstruction of the ancient Greek music depends on the systematical system but it is performed in improvised style as well.

• 지형주 | Hyung Joo Chi