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Christian Music Lyrics

by Mike Shaw, Mik

In the sculptures, wall paintings, and papyri of the Egyptians, we are furnished with another glimpse into the obscurity of early musical history. Among the ancient Egyptians we find music at a somewhat similar pitch of development to that already observed among the Assyrians, technically, that is, but also having a far grander spirit, at least so one would imagine by comparing such works as exist of the musical life of the two peoples.

The Egyptians regarded music as of sacred origin; they employed it largely instrumental music, for the most part in the services of their religion, and, together with astronomy, regarded it in a vaguely philosophic way, fluctuating in their conceptions, between the mystical and the scientific. Judging by the size of the instruments depicted on the monuments of ancient Egypt, their music must have been of a more sombre cast than that of the Assyrians.

Many of the Egyptian harps were twice as large as the largest of those of the Assyrians. An flute type of instrument, about four feet long. This is in the illustrations of the obelisks, temples, and tombs of Egypt.

Its fascinating to think that they designed their instruments and musical composition according to there influences at the time. But maybe it's no different to how we in the 21st century design and create new musical instruments. It seems that all musical instruments are still evolving and will continue to do so.

Of the spirit animating the musical art of the Egyptians, we can only guess; but there must have been some?thing fine in the music existing in the days when the priest Taphesumnes wrote this hymn to the setting sun :-

"Gracious be to me, Thou God of the rising sun, Thou God of the evening sun ; Lord of both worlds ; Thou God, who alone in truth dost dwell, Thou who hast created all, Revealing Thyself in the eye of the sun. At eventide I praise Thee, Peacefully dying to begin new life, ?Midst hymns of praise sinking into the sea, Where jubilant Thy bark awaits Thee."

In today's modern music, hymns like the above are seldom used if ever, and for many years have only been heard in a church or religious setting. But we must conclude that in the early times of the Egyptians, the above hymn would have been part of their top twenty songs, and if indeed it was then we have to accept that in some way, that maybe invisible for the time being, the above hymn and hymns like it, have had a direct or indirect influence on the modern music of today.

The Romans had little or no musical genius, and they were content to take their music, like every other artistic element of their national life, from the Greeks. The Greek was the child of nature, refined and educated through his own innate sense of beauty and fitness; The Roman was a barbarian civilised with the civilisation of the barrack-yard and the camp. So it's safe to say that the Romans music was just a rehashed version of the Greeks music.

To the Greek, Art of any kind was something great and almost holy. To the Roman, Art of any kind was just for relaxation. Roman music is simply Greek music in a corrupted condition, absolutely no artistic value whatsoever.

The only influence upon music by the Romans was in the development of wind instruments. A race of savage fighting men, the Romans regarded military music a lot more seriously than any other type of the art; essentially practical men, they could readily appreciate its usefulness ; and, in this respect, they remind one of the elderly warrior who expressed that music was all very well on parade, but should not be allowed to interfere with conversation.

In the Roman armies trumpets of various kinds were used, some of them being of immense proportions. All the military musical instruments were of brass, and comprised the tuba, a straight trumpet something like a modern post-horn in shape; the cornu, or horn, bent nearly in the form of a circle; the lituus, or clarion, slightly bent at the end; and the buccina, shaped like the horn, but much bigger, the tube was up to twelve feet long. Of these, the tuba was used by the infantry, the lituus by the cavalry.

The most interesting feature in connection with Roman musical life is its wide distribution across the world. This has ever since remained a prominent characteristic of musical art. Into Rome drained all the wealth, knowledge, and luxury of the known world.

Greek philosophers and artists, Egyptian priests, men of all races from across the Alps, Jewish converts to Christianity, fleeing from persecution in their own country, all gravitated towards Rome. It was among these warring influences that the early Christian Church, preserver and regenerator of music, was quietly growing in power and influence; and, with the coming of Christianity, music no longer belonged to one country but to the whole world.

Article Source : Pg. 86

Mike Shaw has sinced written about articles on various topics from Arts, Keyboard Synthesizer and Guide Guitar. Mike Shaw is an organist and keyboard player and owns music websites and. Mike Shaw's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.