Egyptian music

Traditional and Modern Egyptian music

By: Brian 6B

Role and function of Traditional Egyptian music to the society

Most of Egyptian secular and religious life was marked by the performance of music and dance.

Music was a component of life, an important piece to both secular and religious life.

Music was used to entertain people and no celebration would have been complete without music and dancing.

Music served not only as an entertainment, but as a way to pray to the gods for things, such as fertility, health, and protection.

Role and function of Modern Egyptian music to the society

Modern music is still used for entertainment and fun nowadays.

Modern music is used to express peoples ideas and feelings.

Modern music is used to represent cultures and traditions, such as national anthems.

Modern music is used to calm people and meditation

History of Ancient Egyptian music

Egyptian music has been an important part of Egyptian culture since ancient time. The ancient Egyptians credited the god Thod with the invention of music. The earliest material and representational evidence of Egyptian musical instruments dates back to the pre-dynastic period. In the Old Kingdom, harps, flutes and double clarinets were played. Percussion instruments, lyres and lutes were added by the time of the Middle Kingdom. Cymbals frequently accompanied music and dance, as they still do in Egypt today. Ancient Egyptian music was linked to religious rituals as well as worldly entertainment: it was skillful, rich and diverse and influenced by religion, politics, trade, conquest and invasion.

Types of instrument in Ancient Egypt (Examples)

Percussion: 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: Wind instruments included flutes (double and single, with reeds and without) and trumpets.

Stringed: Stringed instruments included harps, lyres, and lutes--plucked rather than bowed.

Types of instruments in Ancient Egypt (Definition)

Percussion: Percussion instruments are instruments that are sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater; struck scraped or rubbed by hand; or struck against another similar instrument

Wind: Wind instruments are instruments that are sounded by the breath or other air current.

Stringed: Stringed instruments are instruments that are sounded by causing taut strings to vibrate, as by plucking, striking, or bowing.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that without the existence of traditional music, todays modern music could not exist, which tells us that traditional Egyptian music played a very important role in their society and history. In my opinion, if music did not exist, the world would have been a plain and boring place with no entertainment.

Bibliography (MLA citation)

"Egyptian Music." Egyptian Music | Tanzraum. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. .

Lesser, Andrew. "Ancient Egyptian Music." Web. 31 Jan. 2015. .

"Musical Instruments of Ancient Egypt." Musical Instruments of Ancient Egypt. 4 May 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. .

Photo gallery 1

Ancient Egyptian instruments

Praying to the gods with music

Photo gallery 2

From these visual representations of life in

ancient Egypt, we can see how important music was in their culture.

This image shows a set of ancient Egyptian music and dances.

Sample video of Ancient Egyptian music.

This video is a recreation of ancient Egyptian music. In this video, Flutes, Harps, Lutes and Drums are included.