The First Music in the World

Lament is a genre of music derived from the Hebrew language that describes a sad state of being. It often combines singing and instrumental accompaniment, drawing upon the therapeutic powers of language. This type of music uses a combination of cognitive and affective elements, with the words themselves as the dominant power. Music is not an afterthought or superfluous addition but rather a complement to the text.

The power of lament makes it the first music in the world. It allows us to remember the grace of times past and rekindle our trust in times present. The power of remembering also helps us strengthen our faith and hope.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent is a setting of a French carol. The song is one of the oldest Christian hymns. The song’s original melody is a French folk tune. It paints a beautiful picture of Jesus’ coming to earth. It also captures the radiance of the cherubim and seraphs in Heaven.

Edith Piaf was a French singer who grew up in the red-light district of Paris. Her career took off during the second world war. A fiery 4ft 10in diva Piaf was a volcano of drama. Her songs often featured themes of abandonment, murder, and prostitution. She wrote about 100 of her songs and numerous songs co-written by other women.

classical music 

The oldest classical music tradition in the world is classical music (marga). Ancient sculptures from the Indus Valley civilization reveal musical instruments and dance. The Rigveda contains elements still present in Indian music today, including musical notation to indicate the mode of chanting. In the Middle Ages, music was influenced by Persian performance practices and the Afghan Mughals.

The oral tradition, in which musicians learned to play instruments and sing, significantly contributed to the development of classical music. In addition, this teaching method allowed for improvisation and contributed to the evolution of the Gharana over the centuries.

In 1977, the song was covered by Grace Jones. It was the third single from her portfolio album and the first single released on Island Records. In 1978, What featured a montage involving Jones performing the song on the cover of the compilation album Island Life. In the video, Jones dances, revealing her right nipple while wearing scanty gold and black underwear.

Jazz and ragtime

Ragtime and Jazz began in America but are very different genres. Ragtime was popular in the nineteenth century before the advent of sound recordings. It spread through published sheet music and piano rolls, while Jazz was a more modern genre that spread through recordings and live performances. 

Ragtime and Jazz were developed from African-American music. Ragtime and Jazz were the first music to incorporate the saxophone. They incorporated improvisation and instruments, including the cornet, clarinet, and trombone. Ragtime and jazz musicians borrowed material from other genres, including traditional slave and pop songs.