SASA Mini Reading Group: An Introduction to Ancient Near-Eastern Music ‘Theory’: Understanding Musical Inscriptions

Previous participation and previous knowledge not required.

For those new to this subject, the field of “Archaeo-Musicology” is engaged in the study of ancient music informed by archaeological finds. In the ancient Near-East (Mesopotamia) musical information is primarily deduced or retrieved from instruments, instrumental inlays, wall reliefs, and iconography. On occasion one will find information on cuneiform tablets that discuss some aspect of music and this Reading Group/Master Class will focus on some of these music ‘theoretical’ tablets. 

In the following weeks we will be looking at the 3 ‘major’ (most cited) cuneiform tablets that inform scholars about ancient Near-Eastern music theory.

Futuring guest experts

- Dr. Theo Krispijn