[www.circlethroughnewyork.com];


THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
15 East 84th St, Upper East Side
Exhibition opening hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am –5 pm
Free admission
Free guided tour every Fri at 6pm /

THE OLDEST SONG IN THE WORLD

The “Hurrian Hymn” is the earliest known song to be recorded in writing, dating to around the 13th century BCE. The text of this hymn is concerned with the promotion of fertility. It refers to the making of offerings and libations to the moon goddess, Nikkal. The tablet was found at the site of ancient Ugarit (contemporary Ras Shamra), 1km from the Syrian coast. The original tablet is in the collection of the National Museum of Damascus. A scholarly interpretation of its imperfectly understood musical notation has been transcribed into contemporary notation, allowing it to be uniquely interpreted and performed at each location as it travels the circle. Read more about the Hurrian Hymn.

A new interpretation of the hymn was commissioned in 2015 by the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, which is a center for advanced scholarly research, graduate education and exhibitions at NYU that cultivates and presents comparative, connective investigations of the ancient world.

The project culminates in several events, including a mini exhibition on the “Hurrian Hymn” co-curated by Jennifer Chi, Rachel Herschman, and Sam Mirelman. The exhibition is now open to the public, throughout August 2017, at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, 15 East 84th Street, New York, NY 10028.