This is the oldest melody in existence – and it’s utterly enchanting

[G_j]

Last edited Mon Sep 19, 2016, 04:15 PM - Edit history (1)

The Hurrian Hymn was discovered in the 1950s on a clay tablet inscribed with Cuneiform text. It’s the oldest surviving melody and is over 3400 years old.

The hymn was discovered on a clay tablet in Ugarit, now part of modern-day Syria, and is dedicated the Hurrians’ goddess of the orchards Nikkal.

The clay tablet text, which was discovered alongside around 30 other tablet fragments, specifies 9 lyre strings and the intervals between those strings – kind of like an ancient guitar tab.

But this is the only hymn that could be reconstructed – although the name of the composer is now lost.



http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/videos/oldest-song-melody/

[annabanana]

1. fascinating

I am so impressed by the scholars who can figure this out..

[anamandujano]

2. I saved the link. I have to plug in my speakers to listen. Thank you.

[livetohike]

3. That was wonderful. Thanks for posting it.

[Ron Obvious]

4. I'm getting "An Error Occurred. Try Again Later"

Followed by an ID number. I just upgraded my flash yesterday. Maybe that's why.

[Glassunion]

5. Maybe Sony or BMG put a

Cease and Desist on it due to possible copyright infringement.

[Wednesdays]

9. One would think that after 3400 years,

it would be in the public domain.

[Glassunion]

35. Never underestimate the money and power behind BMG.

[Ron Obvious]

14. I wouldn't put it past them! n/t

[Binkie The Clown]

11. Corrected link

[Ron Obvious]

13. Thanks -- that one worked!

And I agree, it's a lovely tune.

I'm in a hotel, probably behind a corporate firewall of sorts. That's probably why the original link didn't work for me.

[Eleanors38]

6. Thanks. I'll give this a listen. Some musicologists suggest "Green Sleeves" is the oldest Pop song

perhaps owing to its repeated use of a chorus and its ballad structure. I don't know.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. How lovely! Thank you for sharing this wonderful bit of history. n/t

[Glassunion]

8. Needs more cowbell

[PJMcK]

26. Hah! (n/t)

[Binkie The Clown]

10. Error: This video is unavailable. Alternate link

[leftstreet]

12. Thanks

Awesome

[G_j]

15. Thanks!

and I corrected the link in the OP.

[cwydro]

16. I love this.

I still love Greensleeves also. Though attributed to Henry VIII, no one really knows.

But a beautiful melody.

[kpete]

17. thanks

mr pete & i enjoyed that

[progressoid]

18. It has a good beat and it's easy to dance to. I give it an 85.

.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. Kids today! You call that music?

No doubt there were complaints from the elders.

[suffragette]

20. Very cool! Thanks for posting this.

[Hekate]

21. That is awe-inspiring. Thank you so much.

[DemoTex]

22. I've heard there was a secret chord ..

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Leonard Cohen

[randome]

32. Love that song.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[Donkees]

23. It seems inspired by the movements of honey bees, not only their waggle-dance, but also their

movements from flower to flower, sometimes slipping out, adjusting their pollen sacs, etc.


Play this on MUTE, while listening to the oldest melody:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

24. Love.

❤️

[3catwoman3]

25. I often wonder about my very...

...remote ancestors - what they looked like, how they lived. I hope they had some joy in their lives.

Whoever created this melody must have had some joyous moments.

[Agnosticsherbet]

27. Beautiful

[PJMcK]

28. As a composer, thank you for your line:

"...although the name of the composer is now lost." Composers, like many artists, reflect and shape their times. Too often, they are lost to history.

On the other hand, I was once told that all the really good composers were decomposing.

[ErikJ]

29. Somebody should do a re-mix of it.

To make it more danceable

[packman]

30. It's good --- but....missing something-- Ah, got it

?t=22

[Xithras]

31. There is a MUCH better version of this.

The reconstruction was originally done by a guy named Michael Levy. Your version contains a two minute piece of a larger composition, excerpted by someone else. You can find Michael Levy's full 6 minute reconstruction of the song (and see him playing it) on his YouTube channel here:

[alcibiades_mystery]

33. Clay tablet from 3400 years ago paired with Greek art from 2500 years ago

Only a thousand years difference.

[John1956PA]

34. This will be a nice melody for me to listen to when I am in a reflective mood.

Thank you for posting.

[SMC22307]

36. Lovely. Thanks for sharing. (n/t)