Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/A/Andronicus

Andronicus. A Neapolitan musician of antiquity. He composed a hymn, which was solemnly chanted by a chorus of young virgins, to appease the wrath of the gods against the Romans. (Vide Sallust.) In the private as well as public sacrifices of the ancient Romans, music was considered an important aid to their ceremonials. The flute was the instrument in use, as also in Greece, to accompany the voices of their priests. The flutes used in the temples were made of boxwood ; those for the theatres and public games, of silver. The trumpet and the lituus were also introduced (according to the Grecian custom) during the hecatombs. To show the importance which was attached to the musical characters in ancient Rome, it is related that, early in the history of that city, the musicians formed together a college or society, and were accustomed to partake daily of a dinner at the capital, given them by the state. On account of this dinner being suppressed, they all retired to Tibur ; and the only terms on which they would agree to return to Rome were, not only the renewal of their usual daily repast, but to be treated with much more magnificence ; as a foretaste of which enjoyments, a banquet was prepared for them at Tibur, where they all became inebriated, and in that state were removed to Rome.