Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Dep. of History, University of Tehran
2 University of Tehran
3 College of Fine Arts / Faculty of Performing Arts and Music
Abstract
Research in the field of ancient music, particularly in civilizations like Elam, faces difficulties due to a scarcity of written documents. Elam, which was in continuous interaction for over two thousand years with civilizations such as Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, and the Achaemenids, has been less studied in the history of Iranian music, and the research conducted in this area has primarily focused on organology and the function of instruments. The present study, employing a descriptive-analytical approach and a comparative method, utilizes material evidence such as reliefs, seals, inscriptions, and instruments, along with written library sources. By comparing the obtained information with neighboring and ancient civilizations, it addresses fundamental questions regarding the physical structure of instruments and plectrum use, the types of scales employed, ensemble performance practices, and the musical texture of ancient Elam. Furthermore, by proposing hypotheses about the musical texture (monophonic/heterophonic) and the probable scale system (tetratonic and heptatonic), as well as the existence of the tritone in Mesopotamian scales, this research attempts to provide, to the extent possible, a picture of ancient Elamite music. The results of this study indicate that music in Elam, despite the lack of direct sources, had a structured position and was connected to rituals. Through a meticulous re-examination of visual and archaeological data, a partial reconstruction of the musical situation of this civilization can be achieved.
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