Relating to a musical mode or scale used in ancient Greek music, associated with emotional intensity or certain musical characteristics.
From 'cata-' (down) + 'Phrygian' (a Greek musical mode named after the region Phrygia in Asia Minor). Used in musicology and music history texts.
Ancient Greek musicians believed different modes produced different emotional effects—the Cataphrygian was thought to stir deep feelings, leading Plato to worry it made soldiers cowardly!
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