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History: Prehistoric Eras

The document discusses the history of classical music traditions and prehistoric music. It notes that the oldest surviving musical instruments date back over 40,000 years to paleolithic sites where flutes carved from bones have been discovered. Ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley civilization and ancient Egypt also had significant early musical traditions, with Egypt credited as developing the first orchestras incorporating harps, flutes, clarinets, percussion, lyres and lutes. Egyptian folk music today preserves many elements of ancient Egyptian music.

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32 views1 page

History: Prehistoric Eras

The document discusses the history of classical music traditions and prehistoric music. It notes that the oldest surviving musical instruments date back over 40,000 years to paleolithic sites where flutes carved from bones have been discovered. Ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley civilization and ancient Egypt also had significant early musical traditions, with Egypt credited as developing the first orchestras incorporating harps, flutes, clarinets, percussion, lyres and lutes. Egyptian folk music today preserves many elements of ancient Egyptian music.

Uploaded by

kj201992
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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History

Further information: History of classical music traditions

Prehistoric eras
Main article: Prehistoric music Prehistoric music can only be theorized based on findings from paleolithic archaeology sites. Flutes are often discovered, carved from bones in which lateral holes have been pierced; these are thought to have been blown at one end like the Japanese shakuhachi. The Divje Babe flute, carved from a cave bear femur, is thought to be at least 40,000 years old. Instruments such as the seven-holed flute and various types ofstringed instruments, such as the Ravanahatha, have been recovered from the Indus [5] Valley Civilization archaeological sites. India has one of the oldest musical traditions in the world references to Indian classical music (marga) are found in the Vedas, ancient scriptures of [6] the Hindu tradition. The earliest and largest collection of prehistoric musical instruments was found [7] in China and dates back to between 7000 and 6600 BC. The Hurrian song, found on clay tablets that date back to approximately 1400 BC, is the oldest surviving notated work of music.

Ancient Egypt
Main article: Music of Egypt

Musicians of Amun, Tomb of Nakht, 18th Dynasty, Western Thebes.

The ancient Egyptians credited one of their gods, Thoth, with the invention of music, which Osiris in turn used as part of his effort to civilize the world. The earliest material and representational evidence of Egyptian musical instruments dates to the Predynastic period, but the evidence is more securely attested [8] in the Old Kingdom when harps, flutes and double clarinets were played. Percussion [9] instruments, lyres and lutes were added to orchestras by the Middle Kingdom. Cymbals frequently accompanied music and dance, much as they still do in Egypt today. Egyptian folk music, including the traditional Sufi dhikr rituals, are the closest contemporarymusic genre to ancient Egyptian music, having [10][11] preserved many of its features, rhythms and instruments.

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