Synaulia

In the beginning the Synaulia's task was mainly educational: the reconstruction of ancient musical instruments for the Dutch archeological center, Archeon.

[3][failed verification] Later the scope was widened to include a more profound study into Italy's music and dance focusing primarily on ancient Rome.

The richness of the iconographic documentation, the abundance of tested theories and numerous literary connections facilitated the study and reproduction of a wide range of antique musical instruments, helping to determine, among other points of interest, their melodic and harmonic possibilities and acoustic quality.

The third branch was dedicated to percussion, and work was undertaken to reconstruct the tympanum, cymbal, scabillum, sistrum, rasum and other celebrated instruments from the late imperial period, the so-called “Golden Age” (aurea aetas).

Kuhnen (Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Trier Germany), Maria Paola Guidobaldi (Sovrintendenza di Pompei), Febo Guizzi (Milan), Gerard Ijzereef (Amsterdam) e Fabrizio Felice Ridolfi (Rome).

Apollo citaredo. Painted plasterwork, Roman work from the Augustan era. From the Scalae Caci on Palatinum, Rome
Ludovisi Throne: Woman playing aulòs or double pipes (5th century BC, Rome, National Roman Museum)
Fresco representing a woman playing the “cithara”. H Room of the P. Fannius Synistor Boscoreale , around 40–30 AD.
Female cymbal player. Particular fresco, Villa dei Misteri, 60 AD. ca. Pompei