CAIRO: Some of the images found on ancient Egyptian papyri and tombs reflect the variety of musical instruments used at the time, attesting to the developed state art had reached during the Pharaonic age.
Abdel Halim Nureldin, professor of archaeology and former director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, spoke of Israeli attempts to claim that those instruments are part of the Jewish heritage which began to take shape in ancient Egypt when the Jewish people emerged as a distinct community.
Nureldin, who had given a lecture last month on the subject at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, pointed out that in spite of the fact that some Pharaonic documents prove that music was present at royal ceremonies, funeral processions and other events, no musical notes were found to translate that music into melodies.
Ancient Egyptians used many string, wind and percussion instruments including the harp, lute, pipe, flute, hand-held drums, the sistrum, bells and others. Men and women alike played music professionally as reflected in the depictions on the walls of tombs and papyri.
According to Nureldin, visually impaired people were also musicians, further demonstrating the prevalence of music at the time.
Some images even portray musicians blindfolded while playing, to help develop their musical ear.
If ever there was proof of the ancient Egyptians’ appreciation of music, it would be Hathour, the goddess of music, and Bes, the dwarf god of music and gaiety.
There were mainstream as well as religious songs. Records speak of religious songs known as Awzir, Amon, Atum Psalms. There were also others that were played during funeral processions.
On the other hand, documents relate that several songs were also composed describing the beauty of nature and meaning of existence.
The songs of the harpist were some of the most famous mainstream songs in ancient Egypt where experts’ interpretations vary — some argue the songs were cynical about the afterlife while others view them as simply established after a phase of doubt.
Images on tombs indicate there were national songs performed upon the return of victorious armies from battles in remote lands. There is also evidence that workers and peasants had their own songs that helped relieve their strenuous tasks.
“A lot take for granted that the ancient Egyptians, the first to have invented letters and writing, were also capable of noting down their melodies,” said Nureldin. “But no discoveries were made to support that assumption,” he said.
“Most probably the songs and tunes must have been handed down from generation to generation orally as many memorized them, but we have to remember that written musical notes are a completely new invention.
“Sayed Darwish’s songs were spread through vinyl records and not through musical notes. Now researchers are trying to discover what ancient Egyptian music exactly sounded like,” he added.
But how can this task be achieved?
“In cooperation with musicians, researchers will try to establish a concept of how the music sounded through the hieroglyphic texts and the movements expressed in the images. Archaeologists will interpret the texts to the musical experts who will attempt to reach a conclusion.
“I understand this isn’t a easy job, but musicians have got their own methods to identify any type of music through certain indications other than notes,” he explained.
Some argue that the attention directed at ancient Egyptian music is politically motivated, since the topic of Jewish moves to claim the invention of the Egyptian musical instruments usually takes center stage in similar seminars.
However, Nureldin strongly denies that claim. “This isn’t true going because many of the images showing these instruments belong to early dynasties that predate the presence of Jews in Egypt. We will have to stress that time and again to stop this theft.” sheft.”
