I stumbled across Klezfiddle's YouTube channel and on it he's put his own lute recording of the oldest melody that has come down to us from history. As Klezfiddle explains, [this was] "transcribed from the original Cuneiform text by Prof. Richard Dumbrill. The ancient text indicates the names of specific lyre strings, and Prof Dumbrill interpreted the musical intervals also notated in the 3400 year old Cuneiform text! All details in his book, The Archeomusicology of the Ancient Near East." I find this piece really eerie, but also amazing; for some reason I thought there was no musical notation before the middle ages. Klezfiddle goes a bit Jimmy Page at the end which I think might not quite be in the Cuneiform.
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27 comments:
I have at hand my newly purchased copy of Pritchard's The Ancient Near East. I'll see if it contains any references to music.
I don't temember any passages about Gilgamesh being supreme among axemen, but who knows? Clapton was God; Gilamesh was just Two-Thirds God.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
Peter
There was an episode of mythbusters where they tried to record and play music off a clay pot. I dont know why they just didnt try this?
Did you notice that the five-note descending progression near the beginning of the piece sounds just like the Lambada?
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
Isnt the lambada the so called "forbidden dance" with its dangerous melodies that drive couples insane?
Which reminds me that there's a Neal Stephenson novel (Snow Crash I think) where a dangerous computer virus makes the leap from Assyrian clay tablets to the internet and finally into people and thus creates havoc in the world.
It could be that propagating this lute music from 3000 years ago I have unwittingly opened the gates of hell...
or something.
The Stone Tapes still terrifies me.
Interesting how traditional middle-eastern / north Aafrican music is truly traditional.
Is it me or does anyone else have God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen stuck in their head?
Yeah, I don't have to stretch far to hear "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman."
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
No, I think the lambada just makes folks crazed with sexual desire. It's the rock and toll of its time.
Wasn't there Norton Anti-Virus Protection-Cuneiform edition back then?
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Rob
All I remember is Jane Asher...
Rob, Peter
Yeah I can see Merry Gentlemen too.
It is very mesmerizing. And surprising.
ur-Trance Music.
Seana
I wonder if there is surviving Greek music out there - they were so creative in all other fields.
Dennis
Was there actually a place there called Ur?
Adrian,
On the player's web site, he also has reconstructions of Greek music.
He also talks about the history behind what he's doing (though if I really cared about the subject, I'd go with something more academic -- he claims, for example, that Abraham may have invented the lyre, which doesn't strike me as a historically rigorous claim :-) ).
Yep, there was an Ur, in in southern Mesopotamia right in the heart of things -- near Gilgamesh land and so on.
Anyone who says Abraham invented any stringed instruments is a compulsive lyre.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Gav
He says what?!!
Ok thats quite a bit nutty.
I'd like to hear this Greek music though.
Peter
Nice, but I wouldnt harp on about it if I were you.
I stole it from a New Yorker cartoon, though modifying it significantly in the process.
======================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I didn't know it was an ancient city in Sumer, and apparently Ur was also the first supercontinent. I thought it was just a cool word I could stick onto audio files instead of "first version" to make me look smart. I wonder if our Lyre buddy does that, "hey let's use the ur-take, the 2nd one is out of tune..."
Peter
Theft is bad but luteing is fine.
Dennis
I came across the word first, I think, in Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant novels. The Ur Lords were the bad guys I think.
Off topic,
but this is a great story!
That is a fantastic story. Also, the writer of the story really knew how to tell it.
Wonder what the earliest Japanese music is--you know, just to tie this back into the general theme.
Seana
I dont think its too early to give him the title of Badass of the Year.
Me either. I also don't think it's too early to start filing away his info for your next novel. Sure, people would say "But no one would ever do that", but who cares? He's completely great.
He'd get my vote for badass of the year. Incredible story and very well told.
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