Games, Music and Ludus Melothedicus

From educational to entertainment devices, games have the power to alter our sense of time as much as our priorities and perception. The first recorded musical games in modern history were a series of publications that appeared in Europe during the second half of the eighteenth century. This article discusses the nature of musical games and tries to present a definition of game as it applies to musical activities. Based on this discussion, the article analyzes an anonymous work called Ludus Melothedicus, published in Paris around 1758. It also provides information on how to play the work.