Egyptian Music History

When viewing the wall paintings and sculptures ofthat all musical instruments are still evolving and
the Egyptians, we are presented with anotherwill continue to do so.
glimpse into early musical history. In EgyptianOf the spirit animating the musical art of the
history, we find music at a similar level ofEgyptians, we can only guess; but there must
development to that of the Assyrians, technically,have been some�thing fine in the music
that is, but also having a grander spirit.existing in the days when the priest Taphesumnes
The Egyptians regarded music as of sacred origin;wrote this hymn to the setting sun :-
they employed it largely instrumental music, for"Gracious be to me, Thou God of the rising sun,
the most part in the services of their religion, and,Thou God of the evening sun ; Lord of both
together with astronomy, regarded it in a vaguelyworlds ; Thou God, who alone in truth dost dwell,
philosophic way, fluctuating in their conceptions,Thou who hast created all, Revealing Thyself in
between the mystical and the scientific. Judging bythe eye of the sun. At eventide I praise Thee,
the size of the instruments depicted on thePeacefully dying to begin new life, 'Midst hymns of
monuments of ancient Egypt, their music mustpraise sinking into the sea, Where jubilant Thy
have been of a deep and sombre cast than thatbark awaits Thee."
of the Assyrians.In today's modern music, hymns like the above
Many of the Egyptian harps were twice as largeare seldom used if ever, and for many years
as the largest of those of the Assyrians. An flutehave only been heard in a church or religious
type of instrument, about four feet long. This is insetting. But we must conclude that in the early
the illustrations of the obelisks, temples, andtimes of the Egyptians, the above hymn would
tombs of Egypt.have been part of their top twenty songs, and if
Its fascinating to think that they designed theirindeed it was then we have to accept that in
instruments and musical composition according tosome way, that maybe invisible for the time
there influences at the time. But maybe it's nobeing, the above hymn and hymns like it, have
different to how we in the 21st century designhad a direct or indirect influence on the modern
and create new musical instruments. It seemsmusic of today.