Exploring the Earliest Known Composers: Enheduanna, Bach, and Dunstable

The question of who was the earliest known composer has been a subject of much debate and scholarly inquiry. While the answer often points to renowned figures such as Hildegard of Bingen, the title rightly belongs to a much earlier and highly influential figure, Enheduanna, a Sumerian priestess and musician from around 2285-2250 BCE. Enheduanna, recognized as the first known author of a piece of music, composed a hymn to the goddess Inanna, marking a significant milestone in the history of music.

Enheduanna: The First Known Composer

Enheduanna, a towering figure in ancient Mesopotamian culture, continues to captivate historians and music enthusiasts alike. As a priestess and princess of Ur, Enheduanna wrote and composed hymns, prayers, and magical incantations. Her monumental work, the Aincurrag, combines sacred verses and musical notation, making her the oldest known author of a piece of music. The significance of Enheduanna lies not only in her role as a composer but also in her status as one of the first known female writers in recorded history. Her contributions to Sumerian culture and her lasting impact on religious and musical arts make her a paramount figure in the history of composition.

John Dunstaple: Shaping the Renaissance

While Enheduanna represents a distant past, the earliest widely recognized composer in the context of Western classical music is John Dunstaple, an English composer active in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Born around 1390 and dying in 1453, Dunstaple's influence extended far beyond his lifetime, making him a pivotal figure in the transition from the Medieval to the Renaissance era.

Dunstaple, along with Leonel Power, was one of the two most prestigious English composers of his time. His work, particularly his Contenance angloise (English manner), revolutionized the use of triadic harmony in Western music. Prior to Dunstaple's time, the third note in a mode was often considered dissonant, but he brought it into prominence, using it as a foundational interval. This innovation had a profound impact on the development of Western musical theory and practice.

Dunstaple's revolutionary harmony and his Sanctus from Missa de gaudiorum exemplify his innovation. In this piece, the long-held third would have sounded dissonant to contemporary ears, much like a long-held tritone or seventh would sound today. Dunstaple's work, including his use of parallel thirds, had a powerful influence on the first generation of great Renaissance composers, including those of the Burgundian School such as Dufay and Ockeghem.

Hildegard of Bingen: A Medieval Icon

Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century abbess and composer, is often cited as an early figure in Western classical music. Although Enheduanna predates her by millennia, Hildegard's work is significant in the scope of medieval music. Hildegard composed numerous religious works and was known for her vivid and imaginative visions. She wrote operas, including the SponsaliaChristi, and treated music as a tool for spiritual expression. Her compositions influenced later generations of composers and continue to be studied and performed today.

Bach: A Posthumous Recognition

While Enheduanna and Dunstaple represent historical milestones, Johann Sebastian Bach’s place as a composer is more complex. Although his music became widely disseminated after his death, he was not recognized as a great composer until a century later. This delayed recognition is an exception to the rule that composers gain widespread acknowledgment while they are alive. Bach's music was not widely performed until the 19th century, thanks in part to the efforts of his admirers and the invention of the modern piano, which better suited his works.

Current Living Composers

As for the modern era, the oldest living composer currently, Gyorgy Kurtag, is an 96-year-old Hungarian composer known for his distinctive style and profound impact on contemporary classical music. Kurtag, born in 1923, continues to compose and perform, maintaining a connection between past and present musical traditions.

Conclusion

The history of composition is a rich tapestry woven with threads of innovation and continuity. From Enheduanna's early hymns to Dunstaple's revolutionary harmony and Hildegard of Bingen's spiritual operas, the earliest known composers have left indelible marks on the course of musical history. Their works not only enrich our cultural heritage but also serve as starting points for the development of future musical traditions.

Keywords: earliest known composer, John Dunstaple, Enheduanna