An ancient Greek legend says that the first musical instrument was created by the god Pan, who was walking in the forest near a river, picked a reed and began to blow into it. It turned out that the reed tube was capable of producing enchanting sounds that formed beautiful melodies. Pan cut several branches of reeds and connected them together, creating the first instrument - the prototype of the flute.

Thus, the ancient Greeks believed that the first musical instrument was the flute. Perhaps this is so - at least it is the oldest tool recorded by researchers. Its oldest specimen was found in southern Germany, in the Holy Fels cave, where excavations of a prehistoric human settlement are being carried out. In total, three flutes were found in this place, carved from tusk and having several holes. Archaeologists also discovered fragments that apparently belonged to the same flutes. Radiocarbon dating helped determine the age of these instruments, and the oldest was dated to the 40th millennium BC. So far this is the oldest instrument that has been found on Earth, but it is possible that other specimens simply have not survived to this day.

Similar flutes and pipes were found in Hungary and Moldova, but they were made in the 25-22 thousand years BC.

Candidates for the title of the most ancient musical instruments

Although the flute is still considered the most ancient musical instrument, it is possible that in fact the first to be made was a drum or any other device. For example, Australian Aborigines are confident that their national instrument called the didgeridoo is the oldest, its history goes deep into the history of the indigenous population of this continent, which, according to scientists, ranges from 40 to 70 thousand years. Thus, it is quite possible that the didgeridoo really is the oldest instrument. It is an impressive piece of eucalyptus trunk, in some cases reaching three meters in length, with a hollow core eaten away by termites.

Since didgeridoos are always cut from different trunks with different shapes, their sounds are never the same.

The oldest drums found date back to just the fifth millennium BC, but scientists believe it is one of the most likely candidates for the title of the first musical instrument. Its long history is evidenced by both the wide variety of types of modern drums and their almost ubiquitous distribution, and the simple and uncomplicated design that would have allowed even the most ancient ancestors of people to play melodies with the help of simple devices. In addition, it has been proven that in many cultures, drum music was a very important part of life: it accompanied all holidays, weddings, funerals, and wars.

People have discovered the enchanting sounds of music since ancient times. In ancient Greek myths, both gods and mortals mastered the art of playing various musical instruments. Not a single feast was complete without pipes, timbrels and flutes, which brightened up the celebrations of kings and simple peasants. But what instrument is the most ancient on Earth?

The first musical instruments

Archaeologists were the first to talk about the existence of musical instruments in ancient times, finding pipes, tweeters and other objects for playing music in almost all excavations. Moreover, similar finds were discovered in those territories where archaeologists managed to excavate sites of primitive people.

Some found musical instruments archaeologists refer to the era Upper Paleolithic– in other words, these instruments appeared 22-25 thousand years BC.

In addition, ancient people knew how to not only make musical instruments, but also music for them, writing down musical notes on clay tablets. The oldest musical notation to date was written in the 18th century BC. Archaeologists found it in the Sumerian city of Nippur they excavated, which was once located in the territory of modern Iraq. University of California scientists who deciphered the music tablet in 1974 said it contained the words and music of an Assyrian love ballad for string lyre.

The most ancient musical instrument

In 2009, archaeologists discovered in one of the caves located in southwestern Germany the remains of a tool that strongly resembles a modern one. Analyzes and studies have shown that age ancient flute is more than 35 thousand years old. Five perfectly round holes were made in the body of the flute, which should be closed with the fingers when playing, and at its ends there were two deep V-shaped cuts.

The length of the musical instrument was 21.8 centimeters, and the thickness was only 8 millimeters.

The material from which the flute was made turned out to be not wood, but a bird's wing. This instrument is by far the oldest, but not the first in the history of archaeological finds - bone pipes, hollow animal horns, shell pipes, stone and wooden rattles, as well as drums made from animal skins have also been repeatedly found at excavations.

There are many legends about the origin of music. The ancient Greeks believed that the great gods of Olympus gave it to them, but modern scientists have conducted a number of ethnographic and archaeological studies. As a result of these studies, it was found that the first music appeared in primitive society and was used as a lullaby to lull to sleep.

No one can say exactly when music began, but it is known that it has accompanied humanity since ancient times. Even at the dawn of civilization, three methods of musical sound production were identified: striking a sounding object, vibrating a stretched string, and blowing air into a hollow tube. This was the beginning of three types of musical instruments - percussion, strings and wind.

The very first wind instruments were hollow bones of various animals. For example, the most ancient one known to scientists - the Neanderthal pipe - is made from the bone of a cave bear. In its development wind instruments accepted different shapes, but various peoples General patterns were observed in this process.

Pan Flute

Having learned to extract sound from a pipe (first bone, then wooden), a person wanted to diversify this sound. He noticed that pipes of different lengths produce sounds of different pitches. The simplest (and therefore most ancient) solution was to tie together several different tubes and move this structure along the mouth.

Thus was born the instrument, best known by the Greek name syrinx, or the flute of Pan (according to Greek myth, it was created by the god Pan). But you should not think that only the Greeks had such a flute - among other peoples it existed under other names: ekuduchai in Lithuania, nai in Moldova, kugikly in Russia.

A distant descendant of this flute is such a complex and majestic instrument as the organ.

Pipe and flute

To produce sounds of different heights, it is not necessary to take several tubes; you can change the length of one by making holes on it and blocking them with your fingers in certain combinations. This is how an instrument was born, which among the Russians was called the flute, among the Belarusians - the pipe, among the Belarusians - the sopilka, among the Moldovans - the fluer.

All these instruments are held across the face, this is called a “longitudinal flute,” but there was another design: the hole into which air is blown is located in the same plane as the finger holes. This kind of flute - transverse - was developed in academic music, and the modern flute goes back to it. And the “descendant” of the pipe – the recorder – is included in symphony orchestra is not included, although it is used in academic music.

Zhaleika

The instruments discussed above are among the whistling ones, but there is also a more complex design: the instrument is equipped with a bell into which a reed is inserted - a thin plate (originally made of birch bark), the vibration of which makes the sound louder and changes its timbre.

This design is typical for the Russian pity, the Chinese sheng. There were similar tools in Western Europe, modern classical oboe and clarinet go back to them.

Horn

Another design option for a wind instrument is an additional part that comes into contact with the musician’s lips, the mouthpiece. This is typical for a horn.

The horn is usually associated with the work of a shepherd. Indeed, the shepherds used horns, because the sound of this instrument is quite strong and can be heard at a great distance. This is facilitated by the conical shape.

This is just a small part of the diversity that wind instruments represent. different nations.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• Vasiliev Yu., Shirokov A. Stories about Russian folk instruments

Tip 4: Which musical instruments are considered folk instruments

Folk instruments are an integral part traditional culture of one country or another, however, in order to understand what instruments can be considered folk, it is necessary to turn to history and folk music.

Many musical instruments of antiquity originate from neighboring cultures (the region of Asia Minor, the Middle East and the Mediterranean). In Greece, however, special instruments were developed, which, as a result of development, acquired a classical appearance and became the basis for the creation of new modern species tools.

Learning musical instruments Ancient Greece, they can be divided into three main categories: strings, winds and percussion.

Strings

• lyre guitar
• triangle-harp
• pandura - A small lute similar to a mandolin or guitar

All stringed instruments were plucked and were played by plucking the strings. Strings with a bow have not been found at all.

Lyre guitars were the most popular instruments along with others. Their origin goes back to Mesopotamia. The first evidence of the lyre is found in the palace of Pylos on Crete (1400 BC). Lyra was identified with Apollo. According to mythology, it was invented by Hermes. When Apollo discovered that Hermes had stolen the bulls from him, he began to pursue him. Hermes, running away from pursuit and trying to hide, accidentally stepped on a turtle shell. Noticing that the shell amplifies the sound, he made the first lyre and gave it to Apollo, thus moderating his anger.

The principle of the structure of the first lyre. Two thin slats (arms) were attached to a resonator made of tortoise shell or wood. There was a cross beam located vertically to the slats on the top. Strings equal length were made from dried and rolled intestines, sinew or flax. They were fixed at the chord point on the resonator, passing through a small ridge; on the upper side they were twisted on a beam using a key (peg) system, which made them easier to tune. There were initially three strings, later there were four, five, seven, and during the “ new music“Their number reached twelve. They played the lyres right hand or a plectrum made of horn, wood, bone or metal. Left hand helped by playing on individual strings, pressing them, reducing the pitch. The strings had specific names that matched the names of the notes.

There are many types of lyres with different names:

"formings" (ancient lyre)

“helis” (“helona” - turtle)

“varvitos” (with long slats).

These terms are often confused when used.

The triangle is a small knee harp with many strings. It has been found in the Middle East since the 3rd century. BC e. In Greece it is present in the Cycladic culture.

The "pandura", "panduris" or "three-string" with a long sleeve, a resonator and three strings in the form of a tambour was played with a plectrum. This instrument was rarely used in Greece and it has been known since ancient times that its origin is not Greek, but Assyrian.

Brass

Wind instruments are divided into two main categories:

Pipes (with tongue)

Pipes (without reed)

Less commonly used were other wind instruments such as trumpets, shells and "hydraulics".

Siringa (Flute)

Flutes (pipes) or pipes were the most popular instruments in ancient Greece. They appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. e. (Cycladic figurine). Their origin probably dates back to Asia Minor and they came to the territory of Greece through Thrace.

One legend says that the flute was invented by Athena, who, seeing her distorted reflection in the water while playing it, threw it far into Phrygia. There she was found by Marsyas, who became very good performer, and subsequently he invited Apollo to the competition. Apollo won and, as punishment, he hanged Marsyas and flayed him. (This legend can be interpreted as a struggle of national art against foreign penetration).

The widespread use of the flute began after the eighth century, when it gradually began to occupy an important place in Greek music and, in particular, in the cult of Dionysus. The flute is a pipe made of reed, wood, bone or metal with holes that are opened and closed with the help of fingers, and a mouthpiece with a reed reed - single or double (like a modern zurna). The flutist almost always played two flutes at the same time and tied them together for convenience leather strap to the face, the so-called halter.

Pipe

The ancient Greeks used this term to describe the multi-leaf pipe or pipe of Pan. This is an object of 13-18 doors, closed on one side and connected with wax and linen with vertical supports. We played on it by blowing through each door at an angle. It was an instrument of shepherds and was therefore associated with the name of the god Pan. In his book “The Republic,” Plato urged citizens to play only lyres, guitars and shepherd’s pipes, refusing “polyphonic” flutes and a lot of string instruments, considering them vulgar.

Hydraulics

These are the first keyboard instruments in the world and the “progenitors” of the church organ. They were created in the 3rd century. BC e. Greek inventor Ktisivius in Alexandria. These are one or more pipes with or without reeds, on which the performer, using a valve mechanism, could, using plectrums, supply air selectively to each flute. The source of constant air pressure was a hydraulic system.

Pipe

The copper pipe was known in Mesopotamia and among the Etruscans. Trumpets were used to announce war and were used during chariot races and public gatherings. This is an instrument from late antiquity. Besides copper pipes, shells with a small hole in the base and horns were also used.

The history of musical instruments. Video lesson.

When did musical instruments originate? You can get very different answers to this question (from 100 years to tens of thousands). In reality, no one can answer this question, since it is unknown. But it is known that one of the most ancient instruments found during archaeological excavations, more 40 thousand years(it was a flute made from an animal bone, the femur of a cave bear). But wind instruments were not the first to appear, which means that musical instruments arose even earlier.

What instrument appeared first?

The first prototype of a musical instrument was human hands. At first, people sang, clapping their hands, which were, as it were, his musical instrument. Then people began to pick up two sticks, two stones, two shells, and instead of clapping their hands, they hit each other with these objects, producing different sounds. The tools people used largely depended on the area where they lived. If they lived in a forest area, they took 2 sticks; if they lived by the sea, they took 2 shells, etc.

Thus, instruments appear on which the sound is produced by striking, which is why such instruments are called drums .

The most common percussion instrument is, of course, drum . But the invention of the drum dates back to a much later time. We cannot say now how this happened. We can only guess something. For example, one day, having hit a hollow tree in order to drive bees away from it and take honey from them, a man listened to the unusually booming sound that comes from hitting a hollow tree, and the idea came to him to use this in his orchestra. Then people realized that it was not necessary to look for a hollow tree, but that they could take some kind of stump and hollow out the middle of it. Well, if you cover it on one side with the skin of a killed animal, you will get an instrument very similar to drum. Many nations have instruments of similar design. The only difference between them is that they are made from various materials and slightly different in shape.

In the music of different nations, percussion instruments play different roles. They played a particularly important role in music African peoples. There were various drums, from small ones to huge drums, reaching 3 meters. The sound of these huge drums could be heard several kilometers away.

There was a very sad period in history associated with the slave trade. Europeans or Americans sailed to the African continent to capture and then sell its inhabitants. Sometimes when they arrived in a village, they found no one there; the residents managed to leave there. This happened because the sounds of the drum, which came from the neighboring village, warned them about this, i.e. people understood the “language” of drums.

Thus, the group was the first to arise percussion instruments .

What group of instruments appeared after the drums? These were wind instruments, which are called so because their sound is produced by blowing air. We also don’t know what prompted man to invent these tools, but we can only assume something. For example, one day, while hunting, a man came to the shore of a lake. Dul strong wind and suddenly the man heard a sound. At first he was wary, but after listening he realized that it was the sound of broken reeds. Then the man thought: “What if I break the reed myself, and blow air into it, try to make it sound?” Having successfully done this, people learned to produce sounds by blowing air. Then the man realized that short reeds made higher sounds, and long ones made lower sounds. People began to tie reeds of different lengths and, thanks to this, produce sounds of different pitches. This instrument is often called the Pan flute.

This is due to the legend that a long time ago in Ancient Greece there lived a goat-footed god named Pan. One day he was walking through the forest and suddenly saw a beautiful nymph named Syrinx. Pan to her... And the beautiful nymph disliked Pan and began to run away from him. She runs and runs, and Pan is already catching up with her. Syrinx prayed to her father, the river god, to save her. Her father turned her into a reed. Pan cut that reed and made himself a pipe out of it. And let's play on it. No one knows that it is not the flute who sings, but the sweet-voiced nymph Syrinx.

Since then, it has become a tradition that multi-barreled flutes, similar to a fence of shortened reed pipes, are called Pan flutes - from the name ancient Greek god fields, forests and grass. And in Greece itself it is still often called syrinx. Many nations have such instruments, but they are called differently. The Russians have kugikly, kuvikly or kuvichki, the Georgians have larchemi (soinari), in Lithuania - skuduchai, in Moldova and Romania - nai or muskal, among the Latin American Indians - samponyo. Some call the Pan flute a pipe.

More later people They realized that it is not necessary to take several tubes, but that you can make several holes in one tube, and by pressing them in a certain way, you can produce different sounds.

When our distant ancestors made some inanimate object sound, it seemed to them a real miracle: before their eyes, dead objects came to life and found a voice. There are many legends and songs about the singing reed. One of them talks about how at the grave murdered girl the reed grew, when it was cut and made into a pipe, she began to sing and talk in a human voice about the death of the girl, calling the name of the killer. This fairy tale was translated into poetry by the great Russian poet M.Yu. Lermontov.

The fisherman sat cheerfully

On the river bank,

And in front of him in the wind

The reeds swayed.

He cut dry reeds

And drilled the wells

He pinched one end

It blew at the other end.

And as if animated, the reed began to speak -

Thus arose the second group of musical instruments, which are called brass

Well, the third group of musical instruments, as you probably already guessed, is string instrument group . And the very first stringed instrument was a simple one Hunter bow. Many times before a hunt, a person checks whether the tension is good bow string. And then one day, having listened to this melodious sound of a bowstring, a man decided to use it in his orchestra. He realized that a short string produces higher sounds, and a longer string produces lower sounds. But playing on several bows is inconvenient and the man pulled not one string on the bow, but several. If you imagine this instrument, you can find in it similarities with harp .

Thus, three groups of musical instruments arise: drums, winds and strings.

Modern scientists believe that the first representatives of Homo sapiens, Homo Sapiens, appeared in Africa approximately 160 thousand years ago. About a hundred and ten thousand years later primitive people settled across all continents of our planet. And they have already brought music in its primitive form to new lands. From different tribes musical forms differed, but common primary sources can be clearly traced. It follows that music as a phenomenon originated on the African continent before the settlement of prehistoric people around the world. And this was at least 50 thousand years ago.

Terminology

Prehistoric music manifested itself in an oral musical tradition. Otherwise it is called primitive. The term "prehistoric" is usually applied to the musical tradition of the ancients European peoples, and in relation to the music of representatives of other continents, other terms are used - folklore, traditional, popular.

Ancient musical instruments

First musical sounds- This is a person’s imitation of the voices of animals and birds during a hunt. And the first musical instrument in history is the human voice. With the strength of the vocal cords, a person could already masterfully reproduce sounds in a wide range: from the singing of exotic birds and the chirping of insects to the roar of a wild animal.

The hyoid bone, which is responsible for the production of sounds, according to anthropologists, was formed approximately 60 thousand years ago. Here is another starting date in the history of music.

But prehistoric music was not produced only by voice. There were others, in particular palms. Clapping hands or knocking stones against each other are the first manifestations of rhythm created by man. And one of the subtypes of primitive music is the sound of grain grinding in the hut of a primitive man.

The first prehistoric musical instrument, the existence of which is officially confirmed by archaeologists, is. In its primitive form it was a whistle. The whistle pipe acquired holes for the fingers and became a full-fledged musical instrument, which was gradually improved to the form of a modern flute. Prototypes of the flute were discovered during excavations in southwestern Germany, dating back to the period 35-40 thousand years BC.

The role of prehistoric music

Many people believe that music can tame the most ferocious animal. AND ancient man subconsciously began to use sounds to attract or repel animals. The opposite is also possible: that music pacified man, turning him from a beast into a thinking and feeling creature.

The prehistoric period in the history of music ends at the moment when music passes from oral tradition to written tradition.

The music of past centuries is not broadcast by modern radio stations, but lives in ancient books and museums. They are no longer played, but some people still remember musical instruments forgotten by civilization.

We all know what a piano, grand piano, trumpet, violin, guitar and drum look and sound like. What did their “grandmothers” and “grandfathers” look and sound like? We won’t be able to reproduce the sounds of an ancient orchestra, but we will tell you about ancient musical instruments.

1. Lyre

Back in Ancient Greece, musical instruments were created, which over time acquired a classic appearance and became the basis for the creation of new modern types. The lyre is the most popular musical instrument during the development of the Ancient Greek state. The first mention of the lyre dates back to 1400. BC e. This instrument has always been identified with Apollo, since Hermes gave him the first lyre. And it sounded, accompanying beautiful poems. The lyre is not played today, but the term "lyric" has immortalized the instrument.

2. Kifara

It is rightfully considered one of the first string instruments and is a direct descendant of the lyre. Musicians holding a cithara in their hands were depicted on ancient coins, frescoes, clay amphorae and paintings. This instrument was very popular in Persia, India and Rome. Unfortunately, it is impossible to accurately reproduce the sound of the kithara today, but thanks to literary description it was reconstructed.

3. Zither

This plucked string musical instrument became most widespread in Austria and Germany in the 18th century. It appeared in Russia in the second half of the 19th century. Similar instruments were found among the peoples of China and the Middle East.

4. Harpsichord

A plucked keyboard musical instrument that gained immense popularity in the Middle Ages. The first information about the harpsichord dates back to 1511. Unique tool Italian work from 1521 has survived to this day. Externally, the harpsichords were finished very elegantly. Their body was decorated with drawings, inlays and carvings. However, by the end of the 18th century, the harpsichord was replaced by the piano; it was supplanted and completely forgotten in the 19th century.

5. Clavichord

One of the oldest stringed percussion-clamped musical instruments. Outwardly it was very similar to a harpsichord, but had a more powerful sound. The clavichord, created in 1543, is today housed in the Museum of Musical Instruments in Leipzig, Germany. Greatest Composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven created many works specifically written for the clavichord.

6. Harmonium

This wind reed keyboard musical instrument was very popular in late XIX century. In everyday life it was called the “organ”. The creator of the harmonium is a Frenchman named Deben, who received a patent for the manufacture of the instrument in 1840. Today the harmonium can only be seen in museums.

7. Beat

Ancient Slavic percussion instrument. It was made of iron, which was struck with a mallet. Bilo also played the role of a church bell and signaling instrument for the Old Believers.

8. Horn

The main instrument of Russian buffoons of the early Middle Ages. Outwardly it was very similar to a violin and was considered its Slavic prototype. Horn - wooden bowed instrument pear-shaped with three strings.

9. Hurdy Wheel

This keyboard musical instrument originated in Central Europe in X-XI centuries. Originally, the hurdy-gurdy required two people to play because the keys were on top. One turned the knob, and the second played a melody. Later the keys were placed at the bottom. First in Russia hurdy-gurdy appeared in the 17th century. People playing this instrument performed spiritual verses and biblical parables.

10. Kobza

Ukrainian national plucked string musical instrument. It is believed that the kobza was brought to Ukraine by Turkic tribes, but the instrument acquired its final appearance in these lands. The image of the kobzar, who accompanied his songs and thoughts by playing the kobza, was immortalized in his work by T. Shevchenko. Kobza was a favorite instrument Ukrainian Cossacks and villagers, but after 1850 it was replaced by a bandura.

11. Rainstick

The rain flute is an exotic ancient musical instrument that was used by the shamans of the Southern and North America to control the rain element. It perfectly imitated the sound of water pouring or falling rain. Previously it served as a cult instrument in the ancient rites of local aborigines. Today, rhinestone acts as a talisman for housing against envy and malice.

12. Kalimba

The oldest musical instrument of African tribes. Today in parts of Central and Southern Africa it is used in traditional ceremonies. The Kalimba is called the "African hand piano".

This instrument was known in the 16th century. under another name – zinc, the same “great-grandfather” of wind instruments. It was invented by the Frenchman Edme Guillaume. A serpent is a curved tube that looks very much like a snake. The instrument was made from wood or bone, covering the base with tanned leather. Sometimes the tip of the serpentine was made in the form of a reptile's head.

In 1752, an instrument was invented in St. Petersburg that replaced an entire orchestra, which consisted of 40-80 hunting horns, each of which was carefully processed and tuned to its own unique sound. It is clear that size mattered here: the largest horn sounded low, and the smallest produced high notes.

15. Ionic

Until recently, this musical instrument was an integral part of any vocal and instrumental ensemble. Ionica is a trademark of electric musical instruments produced in the German Democratic Republic in 1959. In the Soviet Union, the term “ionics” began to be used in relation to all small-sized keyboard instruments. Over time, it was replaced by transistor devices, which were more reliable.