The “Song of Seikilos” (also known as the “Seikilos Epitaph”) has been dated to the 1st or 2nd century CE and is widely considered to be the oldest complete musical composition.
“Hymn to Nikkal”, the oldest preserved song with notation, and the "Delphic Hymns", the oldest notated music with a known composer, are both older examples but were discovered in fragments and are incomplete.
The Song of Seikilos' Greek lyrics come with signs and symbols to indicate a melody and were found engraved on a tombstone (or stele) from the Hellenistic town of Tralles, near modern-day Aydın in Türkiye.
The marble epitaph first came to light in 1883, but went missing and was later rediscovered propping up a flowerpot before being transferred to the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. The song is dedicated from Seikilos to Euterpe – thought to be his wife. The chilling, liberal English translation of the lyrics warn: “While you live, shine. Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while, and time demands its toll.”
FAQs
The Seikilos epitaph is the oldest surviving complete musical composition, including musical notation, being dated between the first and second century CE.
What is the oldest song everyone knows? ›
The “Hurrian Hymn” is the earliest known song to be recorded in writing, dating to around the 13th century BCE.
What is the oldest surviving song? ›
One of these tablets, which is nearly complete, contains the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal (also known as the Hurrian cult hymn or "a zaluzi-prayer to the gods," or simply "h. 6"), making it the oldest surviving substantially complete work of notated music in the world.
What is the oldest song still played today? ›
Although interpretations of the melody may vary, modern scholars and musicians have reconstructed and performed the "Hurrian Hymn No. 6," making it one of the oldest known musical compositions still played and appreciated today.
What song was #1 the longest? ›
"Old Town Road" holds the record for the longest stretch at No. 1 with 19 weeks. It also became the fastest song in history to be certified diamond.
What is the first song ever on record? ›
The earliest known intelligible recorded sound of a human voice was conducted on April 9, 1860 when Scott recorded someone singing the song "Au Clair de la Lune" ("By the Light of the Moon") on the device.
What was the first #1 song ever? ›
The first number-one song of the Billboard Hot 100 was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson, on August 4, 1958.
What is the oldest hymn still sung today? ›
Here are the top ten, in order of age:
- All Creatures of Our God and King,” by St. ...
- “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee,” by Bernard of Clairvaux (1091–1153).
- And, oldest of all is “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” by Theodulph of Orleans, (760–821).
"Song of Moses". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia.
What is the oldest recorded song with vocals? ›
Arthur Sullivan composed 'The Lost Chord' at the side of the bed of his ill brother, who died a few days later. This recording was discovered just a few years ago and it is believed to be the oldest recording of a human voice.
Hopkinson, the only American-born composer for whom there is evidence of having written songs prior to 1800, penned "My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free" (words by Thomas Parnell) in 1759. Scored for voice and harpsichord, this song by Hopkinson is America;s earliest surviving secular composition."
What is the world's first old song? ›
The Hurrian Hymn was discovered in the 1950s on a clay tablet inscribed with Cuneiform text. It's the oldest surviving melody and is over 3,400 years old.
What is the oldest music existing? ›
The oldest surviving written music is the Hurrian songs from Ugarit, Syria.
What is the oldest song in the world in English? ›
"Sumer is icumen in" is the incipit of a medieval English round or rota of the mid-13th century; it is also known variously as the Summer Canon and the Cuckoo Song. The line translates approximately to "Summer has come" or "Summer has arrived". The song is written in the Wessex dialect of Middle English.
What is the single most recorded song in history? ›
Although the good people at Guinness World Records recognize “Summertime” as the most recorded song in history, they also note that “Amazing Grace” has been recorded thousands of times, appearing on at least 11,000 albums.
What is the longest song in history? ›
'Shri Ramcharitmanas' lasts a whopping 138 hours, 41 minutes and 20 seconds. The song is based on the Ramayana, an epic of Hindu poetry in the Awadhi language composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas.
