What is the earliest recorded song or poem?

burnemwill

The earliest recorded poem would have to be "The Odyssey" by Homer written about 800 to 600 BC. Of course there are others that could be earlier, but they are not in common circulation. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey Apr 28 07, 11:28 PM

Arpeggionist

The earliest song, with musical notation, is a Sumerian ceremonial hymn from way further back than the Odyssey. Even some excerpts of biblical poetry (the Song of the Sea, Deuteronomy 32, the Song of Deborah) are older than the Greek text. Until very recently (relatively speaking), all poetry was meant to be sung, and most poetry did not require musical notation for singing purposes. Apr 29 07, 3:30 AM

Arpeggionist

That said, the first recording of poetry and song would have probably been from around the 1890s when Enrico Caruso started working with record labels. Apr 29 07, 3:31 AM

Yaarbiriah

I agree with Arpeggionist.. Song of the Sea sung by Moses and echoed by Miriam with the women.. probably recited as a chant to the accompaniment of tambourines, about three and a half thousand years ago. Exodus chapter 15. The ancient word for 'poem' and 'song' in Hebrew is the same: 'Shira'. Other Biblical songs include the song of Deborah, David's song in lament of loss of Jonathan and Saul, Solomon's 'song of songs' (Canticles- a love song, possibly allegorical), and the Psalms of course, many of which were attributed to King David- those after psalm 72 were probably composed by other poets and a few of the earlier ones were composed by poets prior to King David.. it is likely some of them have been passed down from very early times and their antiquity is uncertain. Apr 29 07, 6:32 AM

looby_lucifer

The first recorded poem would Thomas Edison's recording of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' back in 1877. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_had_a_little_lamb Apr 29 07, 9:53 AM

Baloo55th

Recorded doesn't necessarily mean a sound recording. Long before most of the Bible was written down there was the epic of Gilgamesh which was written down (on clay tablets) in about 2000 BCE in Babylon. http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/GILG.HTM As Sumer preceded Babylon, Arpy's song would be older. Apr 29 07, 12:48 PM