BBC News - Recreating the sound of Tutankhamun's trumpets

By Christine Finn Archaeologist and presenter, Ghost Music

Tutankhamun's trumpet was one of the rare artefacts stolen from the Cairo Museum during the recent uprising. The 3,000-year-old instrument is rarely played, but a 1939 BBC radio recording captured its haunting sound.

Among the "wonderful things" Howard Carter described as he peered by candlelight into the newly discovered tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 were two trumpets, one silver and one bronze.

For more than 3,000 years they had lain, muted, in the Valley of the Kings, close to the mummy of the boy king. Found in different parts of Tutankhamun's tomb, both were decorated with depictions of Egyptian gods identified with military campaigns.

Both became exhibits at the Cairo museum, but when it was broken into during the recent uprising, the bronze instrument vanished. Luckily, the silver one was away on exhibition tour. [...]

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Ghost Music is on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 19 April at 1330 BST, repeated Saturday 23 April at 1530 BST. Listen online via the BBC iPlayer.

Full article at bbc.co.uk

Be sure to check out Lost Sound Orchestra.

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