The few actual examples of ancient music notation that survive usually exist on papyrus or clay tablets. Information on musical practices, genres, and thought is mainly available through literature, visual depictions, and increasingly as the period progresses, instruments. The oldest surviving written music is the Hurrian songs from Ugarit, Syria. Of these, the oldest is the Hymn to Nikkal (hymn no. 6; h. 6), which is somewhat complete and dated to BCE. However, the Seikilos epitaph is the earliest entirely complete noted musical composition. Dated to the 2nd Century CE or later, it is an epitaph, perhaps for the wife of the unknown Seikilos.
The few actual examples of ancient music notation that survive usually exist on papyrus or clay tablets Information on musical practices genres and thought is mainly available through literature visual depictions and increasingly as the period progresses instruments The oldest surviving written music is the Hurrian songs from Ugarit Syria Of these the oldest is the Hymn to Nikkal (hymn no 6; h 6) which is somewhat complete and dated to BCE However the Seikilos epitaph is the earliest entirely complete noted musical composition Dated to the 2nd Century CE or later it is an epitaph perhaps for the wife of the unknown Seikilos