Ancient Egyptian Music - Hymn for the Sunrise video free download


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Duration: 05:28
Uploaded: 2011/07/24

This musical tribute to ancient Egypt was originally composed in 1978 by Alo Jihad Racy for the King Tutankhamun exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. It was inspired by the artistry of the ancient treasures and the religious symbolism of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which suggested titles of the compositions. Only traditional Near Eastern instruments were used in making this recording, like the nay, salamiyyah, buzuq, mijwiz, mizmar and others.

Although music existed in prehistoric Egypt, the evidence for it becomes secure only in the historical (or "dynastic" or "pharaonic") period--after 3100 BCE. Music formed an important part of Egyptian life, and musicians occupied a variety of positions in Egyptian society. Music found its way into many contexts in Egypt: temples, palaces, workshops, farms, battlefields and the tomb. Music was an integral part of religious worship in ancient Egypt, so it is not surprising that there were gods specifically associated with music, such as Hathor and Bes (both were also associated with dance, fertility and childbirth).

All the major categories of musical instruments (percussion, wind, stringed) were represented in pharaonic Egypt. Percussion instruments included hand-held drums, rattles, castanets, bells, and the sistrum--a highly important rattle used in religious worship. Hand clapping too was used as a rhythmic accompaniment. Wind instruments included flutes (double and single, with reeds and without) and trumpets. Stringed instruments included harps, lyres, and lutes--plucked rather than bowed. Instruments were frequently inscribed with the name of the owner and decorated with representations of the goddess (Hathor) or god (Bes) of music. Both male and female voices were also frequently used in Egyptian music.

Professional musicians existed on a number of social levels in ancient Egypt. Perhaps the highest status belonged to temple musicians; the office of "musician" (shemayet) to a particular god or goddess was a position of high status frequently held by women. Musicians connected with the royal household were held in high esteem, as were certain gifted singers and harp players. Somewhat lower on the social scale were musicians who acted as entertainers for parties and festivals, frequently accompanied by dancers. Informal singing is suggested by scenes of workers in action; captions to many of these pictures have been interpreted as words of songs. Otherwise there is little evidence for the amateur musician in pharaonic Egypt, and it is unlikely that musical achievement was seen as a desirable goal for individuals who were not professionals.

The ancient Egyptians did not notate their music before the Graeco-Roman period, so attempts to reconstruct pharaonic music remain speculative. Representational evidence can give a general idea of the sound of Egyptian music. Ritual temple music was largely a matter of the rattling of the sistrum, accompanied by voice, sometimes with harp and/or percussion. Party/festival scenes show ensembles of instruments (lyres, lutes, double and single reed flutes, clappers, drums) and the presence (or absence) of singers in a variety of situations.

Comments

8 years ago

Olga Novakauskiene

Hymn for thr Sunrise - ancient Egyptian MusicEXcellent . I like it

8 years ago

david silvestre

Wow this song made something rise I can tell you that.

8 years ago

The Ra'zac

I'm only 16 but I listen to ancient egyptian music, i was born in the wrong generation, and I wish kids today would stop listening to their trash and find some real music!!

8 years ago

Mary Lou Weinzetl

This kinda reminds me of Native Indian music 

8 years ago

Preunce MegasX

Cool?Yes Cool!!!!!!!Pharaoh King Tut Ruled Egypt for a 1,000,000 Years ago.

8 years ago

Chingiz Zhylkybayev

Shouldn't Egyptian music sound similar to middle eastern motifs, not far eastern ones?

8 years ago

(s)AINT Cyanide

I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG GENERATION, TODAYS MUSIC SUCKSSS

9 years ago

Ahmed

This reminds of me Old Asian type music mainly.. And a little Native American as well

9 years ago

Dumuzi

Magic! Wood flute's are the most beautiful instrument. Thanks for the post. Love and blessings. 

9 years ago

eric jin

It sounds like a message from ancient aliens from the Sirius constellation.

9 years ago

Pedro Diniz

Ancient Egyptian Music - Hymn for the Sunrise

9 years ago

Joschua Beres

This song was all the rage back when I was young. #kidsfromthebc 

9 years ago

Bubberducky

only bc kids remember this

9 years ago

Fernand Bachet

Hymn for the sunrise is a beautiful piece of music.Incidentally all 8 tracks of this album, which is simply called 'Ancient Egypt', are magnificent.I got hold of the cassette in the early 90's and immediately fell in love with the beautiful, authentic sound.

9 years ago

Cheryl Thomas

Wish I was in egypt

9 years ago

MultiSciGeek

where did you get this music, can i use it or upload it?

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