Glarean

(Glareanus; pseudonym of Heinrich Loris; also Loritus, Loriti). Born June 1488, in Mollis, canton of Glarus; died Mar. 28, 1563, in Freiburg. Swiss humanist scholar, music theoretician, and educator.

Glarean began to study at the University of Cologne in 1506, and in 1510 he became a master of arts. He taught at the universities of Basel (in 1514 and from 1522) and Paris (1517-22). In 1529 he became a professor of poetics at Freiburg. Glarean was an erudite scholar. His articles on music exercised considerable influence on the development of music theory and are an important source for modern music scholars. Glarean’s main musical treatise is the Dodecachordon (1547). He broadened the system of modes, adding four new modes to the medieval eight. In his modal system he distinguished two main modes—the Ionian (major) and the Aeolian (minor)—which were widespread in musical practice (especially popular) but not admitted by conservative musicians. The Italian Renaissance composer and musical scholar G. Zarlino developed Glarean’s system.