music Copy link Outline I. The artII. As played1. cantus, ūs2. concentus, ūs (of a number singing or performing together)3. mŏdus, esp. in pl. (a measured tune or strain)4. symphōnia (instrumental m.) • music: I. The art: mūsĭca, ae or -ē, ēs; also mūsĭca, orum: to treat of m., musicam tractare, Cic. de Or. 3, 33, 132: to teach any one m., aliquem musicam docere, Nep. pref. init.: but the form musicen (acc.) is also used: id. Epam, init. The neut. pl. musica strictly denotes music as a matter of detailed knowledge and practice: he was no less distinguished in m., non minore fuit in musicis gloria, Nep. Ep. 2: very fond of m., musicorum perstudiosus, Cic. Tusc. 5, 22, 63: but in Cic. de Or. 1, 42, init., it is precisely = musica (sc. ars), being classed with other "artes": and so elsewhere in Cic. (N.B.--Ter. has musica ars, in Gk. sense = poetry: Phor. prol. 18.) Phr.: to teach any one m. (to play upon a stringed instrument), fidibus aliquem docere, Cic. Fam. 9, 22, med. (cf. Nep. Epam. 2, citharizare et cantare ad chordarum sonum doctus est a Dionysio). II. As played: 1. cantus, ūs: the m. of voices, strings, and flutes, c. vocum et nervorum et tibiarum, Cic. R. Am. 46, 134: cf. id. Leg. 2, 15, 38, where cantus (pl.) = tunes: vocal m., vocis c., Quint. 5, 10, 124. 2. concentus, ūs (of a number singing or performing together): the m. of voice and lyre, c. vocis lyraeque, Ov. M. 11, 11: m. (concert) of birds, c. avium, Cic. Leg. 1, 7, 21: Ov. 3. mŏdus, esp. in pl. (a measured tune or strain): to dance to the m. of the flute, ad tibicinis modos saltare, Liv. 7, 2: v. strain. 4. symphōnia (instrumental m.): when there was m. (a musical performance) at those entertainments, quum in iis conviviis s. caneret, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 44, 105: to sing to m., ad s. canere, Sen. Ep. 12, 8: (?discordant m., s. discors, Hor. A. P. 374: Plin.