The Earliest Music In Western Civilization

Music tames the savage beast they say, andthe earliest surviving example of notated music in
perhaps the creation of music in our speciesthe world.
tamed us into a more, but not totally, civilizedClearly, as can be seen from the archeological
manner. The origin of music is not known exactly,evidence, music is something that has evolved
it has its origins before pre-history, throughwith our species over the past 60,000 years or
humans using patterns, repetition and tonality toso. It has been a companion for all of us, from
produce naturally occurring sounds, possibly as athe lonely hunter waiting for his prey while he
way to lure animals into a hunt.hunts an animal, to large groups of people whose
Essentially, the first musical instrument was theprayers become a form of song to their gods.
human voice because it can produce a wide rangeIt is something which sets our species apart from
of sounds from singing and humming to whistlingothers on this planet, and while birds have their
and clicking. If the hyoid bone, which is responsiblesong, humans have one completely different, that
for speech, is the judge of the earliest music,is varied and complex. Music is part of our
then it would date to 60,000 years old at least,lifeblood and what gives hope to our species as
beating the oldest bone flute by 10,000 years.we venture into the unknown of the future. A
Clapping was probably the first type of instrumentworld without music is a world where the
used, through hitting one's hands together, orvestiges of civilized humanity disappear.
using stones to create rhythm. When humansMusic and instruments have progressed over time.
first began using stone tools, the sound ofWith the invention of a twelve tone scale,
pounding seed and roots into meal was probablywestern music has become the prominent music
the first type of rhythm ever created by earlyform. With the creation of the twelve tone scale,
humans.new instruments were created. These
The 'Neanderthal flute', which is a disputed find,instruments were able to play these scales and
dates to 43,000 years old. It is a hollowed outeven more important, were able to play with one
femur of a cave bear, containing holes like a flute.another. This lead to the creation of ensembles
The earliest confirmed bone pipe dates to 36,000and written music. The next greatest invention ,
years ago.the printing press, allowed music to be shared
The harp, a complicated musical device, dates toworldwide.
5,000 years ago based on statues found in Crete,Today, we still use the basic instruments such as
as well as the double flute. In regards to song, thisthe harp and flute, except that the are tunable
dates to 3,400 years ago, written in Hurrian,and can play a wider range of notes and music.
consisting of two melodic lines that utilizes majorMusic continues to tame the savage breast even
and minor thirds, while some interpretations of thetoday.
music states it is monophonic.The Delphic Hymn is