“The manner in which systems are constructed, whether consciously or not, are part of the culture of a people and must be unveiled with the utmost respect and without linkage to theories of later cultures as this would lead to colonialist unification.” -Richard Dumbrill. Everyone please understand how heroic and important this research is. Beautiful music too!
What a phenomenal achievement! Thank you so much, Professor Dumfries, for your long labors that have brought to life these ancient expressions of the human experience. Deep Gratitude🙏💖
Way too many people slow these songs so much to make them sound ancient and mystical and it ruins that traditional babylonian structure. Thank you for preserving not only the words which are supposed to be the focus, but also the tempo as you so see it
What transliteration was used for the first performance (Hurrian H6)? I can't find the chorus "ulali uli ulali ula" in the most common transliterations
I'm sorry but how is it possible that a song from ancient Mesopotamia is written in 12-tone equal temperament? These songs are melodically written with a b2 harmonic minor scale which only exists within the confines of 12-TET which was invented in germany during the 17th century... I understand the melody is a recreation because only the lyrics have been saved from the erosion of time but I can not understand how you chose this tuning system for your recreation even though you state that you based it on the melodic and rhythmic structure of old Mesopotamian music. That's not to say that this is not an amazing achievement, but I would love to hear your reasoning is all. Have a good day!
~One of the earliest discussions of equal temperament occurs in the 4th century BCE in the writing of Aristoxenus, a pupil of Aristotle. Aristotle was heavily influenced by Pythagoras who had developed a 12 tone scale based on a 3:2 ratio or a “pure” perfect fifth, but was not an equal temperament scale. ~Vincenzo Galilei (father of Galileo Galilei) was one of the first practical advocates of twelve-tone equal temperament. He composed a set of dance suites on each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale in all the "transposition keys", and published in 1584 "Fronimo Dialogo” an instructional book on playing, composing and intabulating vocal music for the lute. He used the 18:17 ratio for fretting the lute (although some adjustment was necessary for pure octaves). ~In China, dating from the 5th century BCE, a complete set of bronze chime bells, among many musical instruments found in the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng (early Warring States, c. 5th century BCE in the Chinese Bronze Age), covers five full 7-note octaves in the key of C Major, including 12 note semi-tones in the middle of the range. ~While China had previously come up with approximations for 12-TET, Zhu Zaiyu was the first person to mathematically solve twelve-tone equal temperament, which he described in his Fusion of Music and Calendar (律暦融通) in 1580 and Complete Compendium of Music and Pitch (Yuelü quan shu 樂律全書) in 1584.
These songs sound very nice indeed, but unfortunately they're only interpretations. Nobody knows what the Mesopotamian songs sound like, Sumerian, Akkadian, Chaldean, Assyrian, it really doesn't matter, the true sounds of these songs are lost in time in the deserts of Iraq forever.
We know what their scales sounded from a series of texts dating from 4000 to 1000 BC and we can estimate that modern maqam came from Ancient Iraq. This is how reconstructions are possible. Although I cannot say that my reconstructions are exact, they would have not been sounded much different to what they composed 4000 years ago
We as a civilization live with and perpetuate amnesia. We like so many other civilizations produce dominant belief systems and propagate our interpretation of the previous ages. Islam will not tolerate any expression of existence before itself. Dying for a headscarf ? Zahi Hawass, Head of the Egyptian antiquities, maintains Ancient Nubia ( Nubian Ostrich egg depicting three pyramids) a far older civilization was subject to the Egyptian Pharaonic civilization. He also claims the Pyramids were built by the Pharaohs when evidence all around the world, including a pyramid in Bosnia, which is bigger than the Great Pyramid of Gaza, confirms a civilization in existence 10000 years BC. The Arab diaspora and Islam appears to claim, deny and destroy to the extent that it appears invisible. More amnesia. So the music was interesting.
Thank you for this! It is more than simply stepping back into history. It is stepping back and taking time to pause. To pause and _listen._ 🏺⚱️🪔 Your work has achieved so much and is appreciated by so many. Again, thank you! I'm so embarrassed. I read the last line of the poem (22:43) and took it as somewhat of a euphemism. 🤦🏼♂️ _The diviner with his inspection did not get to the bottom of it._ _Nor did the dream priest with his incense clear up my case._ Thinking, initially, the last few words meant _…way up inside her "case."_ 🤭 I understood the mistake I made almost immediately.🙇🏼♂️
Wonderful work Mr Dumbrill! My favourite song by far was the drinking song that Sevan sung with character and mirth. I liked her chuckles and little hiccups. She has a beautiful lyrical instrument. As for the poor man's lamentations, please find an alto to sing it. I am a Contralto myself and l have observed that many of us with our darker, earthy instruments have a demonstrably haunting, mournful, melancholic quality.
1. Hurrian Hymn no.6 0:00
2. Shigar Shami 3:31
3. Iltam Zumra 6:14
4. Assyrian Wisdom Song 10:14
5. Old Babylonian Lullaby 17:01
6. Poem of The Righteous Sufferer 20:28
7. Sumerian Drinking Song 26:48
You've discovered the time travel machine for music. I am grateful to you!
“The manner in which systems are constructed, whether consciously or not, are part of the culture of a people and must be unveiled with the utmost respect and without linkage to theories of later cultures as this would lead to colonialist unification.” -Richard Dumbrill. Everyone please understand how heroic and important this research is. Beautiful music too!
What a phenomenal achievement! Thank you so much, Professor Dumfries, for your long labors that have brought to life these ancient expressions of the human experience. Deep Gratitude🙏💖
Indeed l really appreciate the endeavour. There is a beautiful meandering, lilting quality to these melodies
Thank you Professor Dumbrill. I’m in awe of your work, and the music!
Greetings from South East Asia, i like the song and your interpretations of them
also Ms. Sevan's voice suits the song very much
You welcome from Iraq
@@sanadasanada2643 Thank you brother
The first song moms and grandmothers in Iraq still sing it to the baby to sleep till now
Thank you for this treasure.
Way too many people slow these songs so much to make them sound ancient and mystical and it ruins that traditional babylonian structure. Thank you for preserving not only the words which are supposed to be the focus, but also the tempo as you so see it
ಆಹಾ ಕೇಳಲು ತುಂಬಾ ಸುಮಧುರವಾಗಿದೆ ❤️
Thank you , Professor!
Beautiful
Great story from BBC Sounds Witness History today, Richard. Can we follow a translation of the lyrics as she sings, please?
This is excellent!
Wow this really similar to Assyrians songs
The drinking song is SO fun but the sound of it is so. Familiar. Like bone deep. 😂
Awesome
It would be nice to known the frequency used in that period .
6:15- this is Iltam Zumta rashubti ilatim in its original form. You’re welcome memers
the woman singing might be absurdly beautiful.
She is
The baby lullabye song is the best !
This Old Babylonian Lullaby sounds like Lord of Ring….
Ancient playlists must’ve been like:
What transliteration was used for the first performance (Hurrian H6)? I can't find the chorus "ulali uli ulali ula" in the most common transliterations
It was based on Babylonian a vowel ululation. See CAD
Is that me in the first one
Wdym?
🙏🌍
I'm sorry but how is it possible that a song from ancient Mesopotamia is written in 12-tone equal temperament? These songs are melodically written with a b2 harmonic minor scale which only exists within the confines of 12-TET which was invented in germany during the 17th century... I understand the melody is a recreation because only the lyrics have been saved from the erosion of time but I can not understand how you chose this tuning system for your recreation even though you state that you based it on the melodic and rhythmic structure of old Mesopotamian music. That's not to say that this is not an amazing achievement, but I would love to hear your reasoning is all. Have a good day!
you are wrong, do your research. no music system was ever invented anywhere it always was and always will be.
If you read his research you will answer your own question.
~One of the earliest discussions of equal temperament occurs in the 4th century BCE in the writing of Aristoxenus, a pupil of Aristotle. Aristotle was heavily influenced by Pythagoras who had developed a 12 tone scale based on a 3:2 ratio or a “pure” perfect fifth, but was not an equal temperament scale.
~Vincenzo Galilei (father of Galileo Galilei) was one of the first practical advocates of twelve-tone equal temperament. He composed a set of dance suites on each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale in all the "transposition keys", and published in 1584 "Fronimo Dialogo” an instructional book on playing, composing and intabulating vocal music for the lute. He used the 18:17 ratio for fretting the lute (although some adjustment was necessary for pure octaves).
~In China, dating from the 5th century BCE, a complete set of bronze chime bells, among many musical instruments found in the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng (early Warring States, c. 5th century BCE in the Chinese Bronze Age), covers five full 7-note octaves in the key of C Major, including 12 note semi-tones in the middle of the range.
~While China had previously come up with approximations for 12-TET, Zhu Zaiyu was the first person to mathematically solve twelve-tone equal temperament, which he described in his Fusion of Music and Calendar (律暦融通) in 1580 and Complete Compendium of Music and Pitch (Yuelü quan shu 樂律全書) in 1584.
You should listen more carefully. It is all Zalzalian and nothing to do with equal temp.
It is not in 12 tone equal temperament. You should listen a more carefully.
💕⚘💕
Πολύ καλά τραγούδια,αν και δεν μου αρέσουν τα αργά τραγούδια.Ποια γλώσσα ειναι;Ευχαριστώ για την ωραία μουσική.
tell me lies tell me sweet little lies tell me lies tell me tell me lies ! era goo hoothayeh w'koola tookhmeheh dooglaneh !
I wonder what if Sumerians and Babylonians still exist today with an independent country?
where would such independent country be located?
@@miguelalvarado1464 Around Iraq and Kuwait probably?
@@harveymogarawanderingfilip5318 they would be based in Iraq, East-Syria, north-Turkey and West-Iran.
they still exist yes (the kurds who are divided in four contries) but they still don't have an independant country unfortunatly..
Is there any lyrics to all these songs?
Of course, can you not hear the lyrics?
@@richarddumbrill A translation into English would be very nice for those who might be interested in understanding the meaning of the songs.
How they know it the song it's so old?
Because they were written down on clay tablets that we can date with accuracy
Did she say "inshallah" at 0:56??
No she says Ish ala
@@richarddumbrill Oh, okay. Thanks.
@@BetrayingLight And you thought "Louie, Louie" was the first song to be misheard! :)
These songs sound very nice indeed, but unfortunately they're only interpretations. Nobody knows what the Mesopotamian songs sound like, Sumerian, Akkadian, Chaldean, Assyrian, it really doesn't matter, the true sounds of these songs are lost in time in the deserts of Iraq forever.
We know what their scales sounded from a series of texts dating from 4000 to 1000 BC and we can estimate that modern maqam came from Ancient Iraq. This is how reconstructions are possible. Although I cannot say that my reconstructions are exact, they would have not been sounded much different to what they composed 4000 years ago
We know a bit more than you think...
We as a civilization live with and perpetuate amnesia. We like so many other civilizations produce dominant belief systems and propagate our interpretation of the previous ages. Islam will not tolerate any expression of existence before itself. Dying for a headscarf ? Zahi Hawass, Head of the Egyptian antiquities, maintains Ancient Nubia ( Nubian Ostrich egg depicting three pyramids) a far older civilization was subject to the Egyptian Pharaonic civilization. He also claims the Pyramids were built by the Pharaohs when evidence all around the world, including a pyramid in Bosnia, which is bigger than the Great Pyramid of Gaza, confirms a civilization in existence 10000 years BC. The Arab diaspora and Islam appears to claim, deny and destroy to the extent that it appears invisible. More amnesia. So the music was interesting.
Music back then really sucked.
Thank you for this! It is more than simply stepping back into history. It is stepping back and taking time to pause. To pause and _listen._ 🏺⚱️🪔
Your work has achieved so much and is appreciated by so many. Again, thank you!
I'm so embarrassed. I read the last line of the poem (22:43) and took it as somewhat of a euphemism. 🤦🏼♂️
_The diviner with his inspection did not get to the bottom of it._
_Nor did the dream priest with his incense clear up my case._
Thinking, initially, the last few words meant _…way up inside her "case."_ 🤭
I understood the mistake I made almost immediately.🙇🏼♂️
It is not a mistake on my side, this is a mistake in the original text
Wonderful work Mr Dumbrill! My favourite song by far was the drinking song that Sevan sung with character and mirth. I liked her chuckles and little hiccups. She has a beautiful lyrical instrument.
As for the poor man's lamentations, please find an alto to sing it. I am a Contralto myself and l have observed that many of us with our darker, earthy instruments have a demonstrably haunting, mournful, melancholic quality.
Sounds beautiful, cheers for your hardwork, professor.
Pls, in wich music scale, mesopotamic played their songs?
Pentatonic mostly
It can be criticized that it was interpreted as if a church choir was singing.
🔥🔥🔥
This song probably was rhythmed with drums and tambourines