Hurrian Hymn No. 6

Album: World Music (1952)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The "Hurrian Hymn," which was discovered in the 1950s at Ugarit, Syria, is the oldest piece of music known to man. It was preserved for some 3400 years on a clay tablet, and is written in the Cunieform text of the ancient Hurrian language.

    The Hurrians have long vanished from the face of the Earth, and this song is both incomplete and of uncertain melody. Michael Levy recorded his own arrangement for an album of ancient music. Ancient or not, eight seconds into the recording, there is more than a passing resemblance to Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane." When we asked Mr. Levy about this, he replied: "That coincidence is just cryogenically coooooool, Dude!"
  • An arrangement in the unusual time signature of 11/4 time from 2000 is copyright by Joe Monzo. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.