Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 1

 Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 1

            I have been reading the book Ancient Views on Music and Religion by David Whitwell.  His view is that the Sumerians did not possess a precise musical notation.  It is surprising that an author of this much notoriety would not be aware of the work of Dr. Anne D. Kilmer and her associates at the Department of Assyriology at the University of Berkley.  She deciphered a cuneiform tablet found at the ruins of Ugarit (Ras Shamra) which contained words and a precise musical notation. It was a hymn to the goddess Nikkal inscribed in cuneiform symbols, found it to be a major scale with half steps between the 3^rd and 4^th and 7^th and 8^th degrees. These findings were published in 1976.

             I would think that Dr. Whitwell would have had time to become aware of this research that has revolutionized musicologist’s thinking about ancient music notation by the time he published his book in 2013. He stated, speaking of the Sumerian music of 2400 BC, “In addition to not being able to see music itself, there was no notation of music which one could see, which left musician and listener with only the ear to experience music.”  I am aware that he was not referring to the same song that Dr. Kilmer deciphered but the issue here is much larger.  Before 1976 he could have made such a statement because there was no archeological and music evidence to refute his claim, but certainly not in 2013. I wonder how long it is going to take for writers to catch up on current scholarship. The findings of the music of Sumer, Akkad, Ugarit etc.  and the new scholarship that it has provided now that some of it has been deciphered is now well known throughout the world.

Scripture Thought for the Day

Eph 3:9-12, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”