Heilung - Nikkal lyrics

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David Santapau

Wed, 21/09/2022 - 13:43

Thanks methaneRain for uploading the lyrics and the url to the article about the Hurrian Hymn. I found it really fascinating. In fact I'd like to add to your comment that, as is a possibility for some researchers, I think Heilung takes the pollyfonic version, as you can see in the presence of the second voice. It is not a voice making pollyfonic chant, but I think it could be a way to interpret it with two voices. What do you think about it?

methaneRain127

Wed, 21/09/2022 - 20:25

Hi David, I did make a personal note and was considering adding it but wasn't sure if it would be too much information that isn't related to the lyrics, because it is quite long as you can see on the linked site, so I'm glad you raised this. I am still reading "A Hurrian Musical Score from Ugarit: The Discovery of Mesopotamian Music" by Duchesne-Guillermin where he refutes Kilmer's version (the melody that is used by Heilung) in a number of ways, including the use of refrains and polyphony. The idea is that polyphony is complex and didn't happen till over 2000 years later, so many have concluded that the song being polyphonic is highly unlikely.

Heilung said they added a third voice, the lower tones if I remember correctly. It is their interpretation from Kilmer's version with something more added. So while it may not be historically accurate according to these researchers, I personally love it and was anticipating which version they would choose for Nikkal because I liked Kilmer's version when I first heard it sung, it sounds both complex yet also simple and calming.

David Santapau

Thu, 22/09/2022 - 12:28

I totally agree, accurate or not it sounds beautiful. I can't describe how happy I am of finding a source of knowledge about this kind of linguistic matters like you. I think I'm a little bit romantic about the polyphonic idea since I'm a great throat singing enjoyer.

methaneRain127

Fri, 23/09/2022 - 09:26

I don't know much haha I just came across Casey's site which is a trove of knowledge and that lead me to other sources. Hopefully they will sing this one live.

David Santapau

Fri, 23/09/2022 - 13:08

You don't know much? Damn, after seeing the research that you are doing with the other people in Anoana's lyrics I'd say you know a lot hehe. It was truly awesome to see your debates and conclusions. I feel it discovered a new world to me.

Submitter's comments:

The clay tablet h.6 contains the lyrics for a hymn to Nikkal along with the musical notation and tuning, written in Cuniform of the ancient Hurrian language. According to Krispijn, it appears that the language is a local Ugarit dialect, which differs significantly from the dialects known from other sources. It is also possible that the pronunciation of some words was altered from normal speech because of the music. Despite the many versions and interpretations of the tablet, it is clearly a religious text concerning offerings to the goddess Nikkal, wife of the moon god.

Source:
The lyrics here consists mostly of the transcriptions by Marcelle-Guillemin except where otherwise stated with footnotes. Comparing the different versions from the site below, Heilung seems to have taken the missing parts from Kilmer and Laroche's versions. Transcriptions are combined from Casey Goranson's site: http://individual.utoronto.ca/seadogdriftwood/Hurrian/Website_article_on...