"Harmony is an obscure and difficult musical science, but most difficult to those who are not acquainted with the Greek language; because it is necessary to use many Greek words to which there are none corresponding in Latin"
- Marcus V. Pollio
About this Quote
This quote by Marcus V. Pollio talks to the difficulty of comprehending consistency in music. He recommends that it is a complicated science, and a lot more difficult for those who are not knowledgeable about the Greek language. This is because a number of the terms utilized in harmony are Greek words, and there are no Latin equivalents. This implies that a knowledge of Greek is necessary for a complete understanding of consistency. It also suggests that harmony is a specialized discipline, which it requires a good deal of knowledge and skill to master. This quote acts as a suggestion of the significance of language in music, and how it can be a barrier to understanding. It likewise highlights the complexity of harmony, and the need for a deep understanding of the language in order to completely understand it.