Acknowledgements
After the two-volume work entitled Theophrastus of Eresus: Sources for his Life, Thought and Influence (Leiden-New-York-Köln: Brill 1992), a series of commentaries were planned in order to cover all the different areas of the philosopher’s thought; this volume comes as a part of that wide-ranging project and is focused on the texts dealing with Music (see Commentary 9.2 pp. ix–xii).
I am grateful to William Fortenbaugh for asking me to write this book in the first place. I am also indebted to Egert Pöhlmann, Angelo Meriani, Stefan Hagel and Antonietta Provenza for sharing with me some important outcomes of their own research and providing indispensable advice, and to the anonymous reader who went through my typescript very carefully and in great detail, bringing to my attention some errors and inconsistencies and exposing some weaknesses in my argumentation. Deborah Kay and, again, William Fortenbaugh deserve my gratitude for amending my English.
My deepest debt, however, is to Andrew Barker, for the patience and thoughtfulness with which he discussed the main aspects of my research as it has progressed to completion over the years. Without his assiduous advice and support this book would never have seen the light of day. Needless to say, I take full responsibility for any mistakes or inaccuracies this work may contain.
Massimo Raffa