Music played a very important part of ancient Egyptian life. From all periods there are scenes in temples and tombs that show musicians playing (Musical Instruments). Workers in the fields sang folk songs and love songs.

It also played a very important part in social life. Women were mostly trained in music as the high-pitched voice of a woman was considered to be very heavenly. It was also an ample source of income as the musicians were paid very well for providing entertainment. Even the musicians, however, had a social hierarchy. The highest status belonged to the temple musicians, a position most frequently held by women. Musicians connected to Royal families were also held in very high esteem.

The main areas where music played a role apart from worship and in the courts was in military processions, sexuality and the “song of the harpist” usually depicted singing in the tombs. The Egyptians, in fact, were so fond of music that they also had gods specifically associated with it such as Hathor and Bes.

Percussion was made in ancient Egypt initially with rattles and clappers alongside drums of different sizes. There were also wind strung instruments. Most pictures depict the clarinet, end-blown flute or the harp. The hieroglyphics also indicate the presence of singers and dancers.

A few Ancient Egyptian Musical Instruments are:

Cymbals

A percussion Musical Instruments of ancient Egyptian origin. Egyptian Cymbals consist of a pair of slightly concave metal plates which produce a vibrant sound of indeterminate pitch. Known in Europe since the Middle Ages. In Egypt, Cymbals are used today with Egyptian belly dancers.

Mizmar

This is an example of winded instruments, something like the pipe but very modest and simple. Not too long ago, a 3,000-year-old tomb of Egypt was uncovered on an archeological dig sponsored by the University of Cairo. During the excavation, an ancient reed Mizmar was discovered in the ruins. Although pictures of such musical instruments were depicted on the walls of other previously excavated tombs, this was the first incidence in history of actually uncovering the real object.

Harp

These ancient harps had a variety of shapes and sizes, but generally were either built from a sound-box and strong-arm joined at an angle or on a bow-shaped or arched frame.

The strings, possibly made of hair or plant fiber, were attached to a diaphragm at one end and tied around the string arm or neck at the other. The strings were tuned by sliding or rotating the knots that held them.

Using all of these instruments the Egyptians were able to create a lot of beautiful music very advanced for their time. In fact, their lullabies, in particular, are known to be extremely sweet sounding and some of them have been remixed and used even today!