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The music of Egypt has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians credited one of their Gods Thoth with the invention of music, which Osiris in turn used as part of his effort to civilize the world.<br/><br/> The earliest material and representational evidence of Egyptian musical instruments dates to the Predynastic period, but the evidence is more securely attested in the Old Kingdom when harps, flutes and double clarinets were played. Percussion instruments, lyres and lutes were added to orchestras by the Middle Kingdom. Cymbals frequently accompanied music and dance, much as they still do in Egypt today.<br/><br/> Egyptian folk music, including the traditional Sufi dhikr rituals, are the closest contemporary music genre to ancient Egyptian music, having preserved many of its features, rhythms and instruments.
The music of Egypt has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians credited one of their Gods Thoth with the invention of music, which Osiris in turn used as part of his effort to civilize the world.<br/><br/> The earliest material and representational evidence of Egyptian musical instruments dates to the Predynastic period, but the evidence is more securely attested in the Old Kingdom when harps, flutes and double clarinets were played. Percussion instruments, lyres and lutes were added to orchestras by the Middle Kingdom. Cymbals frequently accompanied music and dance, much as they still do in Egypt today.<br/><br/> Egyptian folk music, including the traditional Sufi dhikr rituals, are the closest contemporary music genre to ancient Egyptian music, having preserved many of its features, rhythms and instruments.
Egypt: Nefertari, Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses the Great of the 19th Dynasty (r. 1279-1213 BCE). Mural from the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, Thebes, c. 1298-1235 BCE.<br/><br/> Nefertari (-c. 1255 BCE), also known as Nefertari Meritmut, was the first of the Great Royal Wives of Ramesses the Great. Highly educated and literate, Nefetari corresponded with other prominent royals of the age and was a skilled diplomat. She is one of the best known Egyptian queens, alongside Cleopatra, Hatshepsut and Nefertiti. Her name meant 'beautiful companion'.
In ancient Egypt entertainment by dancers was common, but mixed gender dancing is not represented in murals and frescoes. Egyptian dancing may have been influenced by the Nubian tradition, which became very popular in Rome during the days of the empire, and is still alive in parts of the Sudan today. Dancers from the south were brought to Egypt and seemingly much admired.<br/><br/> Egyptian choreography appears to have been complex. Dances could be mimetic, expressive - similar to modern ballet with pirouettes and the like, or gymnastic, including splits, cartwheels, and backbends.<br/><br/> A few pictures of acrobatic dancers have been found, generally depicting a number of dancers performing the same movement in unison.<br/><br/> For sociable banquets the dancing girls were often selected from among the servants or the women living in the harem of the nobleman in whose house the party was held; possibly professional dancers were also hired for these occasions. Pictures of such gatherings show girls performing slow elegant dance steps, which may have alternated with wild acrobatic movements.<br/><br/> Public celebrations were accompanied by dancing, whether spontaneous or orchestrated.
Egypt: Nefertari, Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses the Great of the 19th Dynasty (r. 1279-1213 BCE). Mural from the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, Thebes, c. 1298-1235 BCE.<br/><br/> Nefertari (-c. 1255 BCE), also known as Nefertari Meritmut, was the first of the Great Royal Wives of Ramesses the Great. Highly educated and literate, Nefetari corresponded with other prominent royals of the age and was a skilled diplomat. She is one of the best known Egyptian queens, alongside Cleopatra, Hatshepsut and Nefertiti. Her name meant 'beautiful companion'.
The music of Egypt has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians credited one of their Gods Thoth with the invention of music, which Osiris in turn used as part of his effort to civilize the world.<br/><br/> The earliest material and representational evidence of Egyptian musical instruments dates to the Predynastic period, but the evidence is more securely attested in the Old Kingdom when harps, flutes and double clarinets were played. Percussion instruments, lyres and lutes were added to orchestras by the Middle Kingdom. Cymbals frequently accompanied music and dance, much as they still do in Egypt today.<br/><br/> Egyptian folk music, including the traditional Sufi dhikr rituals, are the closest contemporary music genre to ancient Egyptian music, having preserved many of its features, rhythms and instruments.