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A reproduction of the Hurrian Hymn No. 6 clay tablet, the oldest known piece of music discovered in written form — a cuneiform notation system pressed into clay approximately 3,400 years ago in the ancient city of Ugarit, Syria, containing melodic information that musicologists have spent decades attempting to reconstruct
In History

Listen To The Oldest Known Piece of Music Known to Humankind

Played on a nine-stringed lyre, Hurrian Hymn No. 6 is considered the oldest known piece of music in human history.

It’s a beautiful, and memorable sounding piece, discovered in the 1950s, and residing in the ancient city of Ugarit in Syria.

Cuneiform inscription on a clay tablet, featuring the text of the Hurrian Hymn No. 6, the oldest known piece of music.
A stone archway leading to an entrance with steps, surrounded by rocky terrain and greenery.
An entrance to the royal palace at Ugarit, where the Hurrian songs were found. Photo by Disdero 

A collection of music inscribed on clay tablets with cuneiform, the songs date back to 1400 BC in Syria. Of the Hurrian Songs, only Hymn Number 6 survives in its full form.

A piano variation of the ancient song gives you an idea of what this haunting yet beautiful piece of music sounds like.

Read more about this ancient, 4500 year old song on Wikipedia.

A reproduction of the Hurrian Hymn No. 6 clay tablet, the oldest known piece of music discovered in written form — a cuneiform notation system pressed into clay approximately 3,400 years ago in the ancient city of Ugarit, Syria, containing melodic information that musicologists have spent decades attempting to reconstruct
Image CC by Rob Koopman

Via MyModernMet:

Author

Ben VanderVeen is the founder and editor of Moss & Fog, one of the web’s longest-running visual culture destinations. Since 2009, he’s been finding and framing the most beautiful, surprising, and thought-provoking work in art, architecture, design, and nature — reaching over 325,000 readers each month. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

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2 Comments

  2. Melinda

    Most beautiful piece of music my ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing!

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