Folk music is the backbone of a society. It can chart public opinion, give an insight into moral values, and paint a picture of everyday life in ways that words alone may not serve to do. A greater emphasis on secular music in the study of Byzantine life may yield new theories and shed new light on an underappreciated avenue of academia. An understanding of the past allows us to see where we are in this moment of time in our own society and music certainly plays a role in making us who we are. It is legitimate to then infer that music helped shape the societal norms of Byzantine life and crediting liturgical music is only seeing half the picture.
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