Hurrian Hymn no. 6 - 1400 BC is the oldest surviving melody

This astonished me. An actual recording of a woman singing the hymn, as deciphered by Richard Dumbrill. You can hear it at the link.

From Wikipedia,

Richard J. Dumbrill (Epernay 1947) is a British/French archaeomusicologist and composer.

Dumbrill has studied the archaeomusicology of the Ancient Near East, especially the interpretation of cuneiform texts of Music Theory written in Sumerian, Babylonian and Hurrian.


Hurrian Hymn no. 6 - 1400 BC is the oldest surviving melody and is over 3,400 years old. The hymn was discovered on a clay tablet in Ugarit, Latakia now part of modern-day Syria, and is dedicated to the Hurrians' goddess of the orchards Nikkal ~This rendition is by Richard Dumbrill

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskLatakia/comments/1ajidoj/hurrian_hymn_no_6_1400_bc_is_the_oldest_surviving/