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7000 BCE
Origin of Music
The origin of music is unknown as it occurred prior to recorded history. Some suggest that the origin of music likely stems from naturally occurring sounds and rhythms. -
6000 BCE
Cave Paintings
Wall paintings were found that clearly depict people playing drums for some kind of hunting ritual. -
4200 BCE
Oldest Instrument
The oldest piece of musical evidence is a 42,000-year-old bone flute made from the wings of a vulture. it was found in Hoble Fels, a cave in southern Germany. -
3000 BCE
Bronze Age
Discoveries dating from the Bronze Age include metal bells, cymbals, jingles, and horns. -
2600 BCE
Standard of Ur.
The so-called Standard of Ur. It was dug up in the 1950s from an ancient Sumerian cemetery. It’s a wooden box depicting people at a banquet. Displayed on the box are several animals, many soldiers, a king, and a musician playing a lyre. -
2300 BCE
Oldest Composer
The earliest composer whose name is known to us as Enheduanna, was an Akkadian priestess. Some of the lyrics to her moon-god hymns exist but no music. -
1450 BCE
Oldest Melody
The earliest known music, a melody in notation, was found on a clay tablet. -
601
Church Organ
The introduction of church organ music is traditionally believed to date from the time of the papacy of Pope Vitalian in the 7th century. -
1450
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a golden period in music history. Towards the end of the Renaissance, what was called the Church Modes began to dissolve in favour of what is now considered to be functional harmony or tonality based on a system of keys rather than modes. -
Written Evidence
The historical record begins with the birth of writing about 5,000 years ago. From this point, individuals are given voices, stories are told, and even a little music can be heard. The first written evidence for music are pictograms featured on cuneiform tablets that display harp-shaped characters.
