Phrygian

[ frij-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Phrygia, its people, or their language.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Phrygia.
2. an Indo-European language that was the language of Phrygia.

Phrygian

/ ˈfrɪdʒɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Phrygia, its inhabitants, or their extinct language
2. music of or relating to an authentic mode represented by the natural diatonic scale from E to E See Hypo-
3. music (of a cadence) denoting a progression that leads a piece of music out of the major key and ends on the dominant chord of the relative minor key

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of ancient Phrygia
2. an ancient language of Phrygia, belonging to the Thraco-Phrygian branch of the Indo-European family: recorded in a few inscriptions

Word History and Origins

Origin of Phrygian¹

From the Latin word Phrygiānus, dating back to 1570–80. See Phrygia, -an

Example Sentences

But the 'Phrygian Mode' in practical music must have been a tolerably definite musical form.

From Project Gutenberg

The Hypo-dorian and Hypo-phrygian, which employ the new characters and , are known to be comparatively recent.

From Project Gutenberg

Possibly the lowest note (d) is the key-note; if so the scale is of the Phrygian mode (in the modern sense).

From Project Gutenberg

And the Ionian is open to the observation already made with regard to the Phrygian, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

What, then, is the basis of this grouping of certain modes together as Dorian, while the rest are Phrygian in character?

From Project Gutenberg