|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Favorite Dance Articles
|
|
|
|
| Add Date :
Thursday, November 26, 2009 |
| Magazine Name : Belly Dance Japan Magazine |
| Written by :
Amani |
| Issuing Date :
Nov. 2009 |
| Internet Address :
http://www.bellydancejapan.jp/ |
|
Basics of Arabic music dancers should know - Article 1-b
Archaeological musical discoveries
Since it was difficult for me to follow the music in the ancient kingdoms , its development and influences in dance, therefore it was more logic to follow up the musical instruments development Since dancing and singing are of the axioms of life while musical instruments are a result of science and civilization of a community . Aren’t they?
The archaeological excavations have revealed, the existence of many cultures in the Middle East dating back more than 5,000 years. The most important discoveries which has turned the music researches, as the oldest main instrument in the history of music in general, is the Sumerian Harp dated 4600 B.C found in the city of “Ur” in southern Iraq the year
Head of Sumerian Lyre |
Early fifties, a Hurrian Hymn written in Sumerian letters ( photo: music slab) was found by French archaeologists on the old west coast of Syria, near the Lebanese coast ( Ancient Phoenicia), dating back to three thousand years BC. Deciphered by Ann Kilmer, a professor in Mesopotamian history, this music was played by Mr. Crocker, a music researcher in UC in a concert on the old Sumerian Harp revealed that the old musical scale corresponds with the Arabic scale. (reference: Arabic Book titled: Al Sama3 3inda Al 3arab, Part No 4 page 316 written by Majdi Al 3akili , Syria 1976) http://www.bellaromamusic.com/kilmersmith/kilmerint2.html
At the end, the most important thing found so far, view professionals, is the Assyrian musical epic ( reference: Bahra – Al Dia , an Iraqi Journal issued by The Democratic Assyrian Movement– Zou3a) which was written by an Assyrian composer at the seventh century BC, it consists of four sections:
- The first section describes .. The greatness of the Assyrian Empire and reviews its disciplined army
- And the second section symbolizes the conspiracy of the enemy against the king and the Capital Nineveh in order to weaken the empire
- The third section reviews the fierce fighting Between the Assyrian army and the armies of the enemies that have allied against the Assyrian Empire.
Music Slab |
- And the fourth section draws the tragedy due to the destruction and devastation that happened to Nineveh .. The City on Fire
This symphony is the greatest and the most complete musical epic found until today and was played by many international orchestras of today’s world . This musical epic was found on clay slabs among the ruins of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians at the Medieval Kingdom.
For more info about Mesopotamia check:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf1qK4S2ObU&feature=fvw
This , in addition to the important Pharaonic and Greek discoveries for the musical instruments that were found in the tombs and the walls inscriptions that draw the singing ,dancing and music and its importance in public and religious occasions.
Conclusion
 |
 |
| BDJ magazine cover |
The article |
In fact, beside the wall dance’s inscriptions in religion and public occasions which reveal its high ranking, the previous archeological info are enough to help us to draw after logical sequences the first compendium in terms which is as follow:
First as I previously mentioned above that singing and dancing are prior to music Second as we know that the first axiom musical instruments were the percussion instruments, followed by woodwind instruments like NAY than string instruments which came later ; Thus , logically wise, it was impossible for any people to come to a similar industrial and artistical achievements as Sumerian LYRE if art and industry didn’t reached a high standard and were of the utmost importance
I believe, since the music was always related to singing and dancing of old time, therefore, musical instruments industry which have come at a later time indicates that dancing, singing and music were on an advanced stage at that historical era
Therefore, I believe more that inventing the stringed instruments and reaching in its industry to professionalism and composing the musical epics, are great indications of the existence of real professional art forms at that time.
End of part 2
All rights reserved for amanionline.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
