Discover the sounds of the world

Several archeological excavations at the Jiahu site, in Henan Province, China, unveiled a wealth of relics dating back as far back as the 7th millennium BC. Among more than 6,000 artifacts, crafted from materials such as pottery, bone, horn, and shell, several flutes stood out.

The meticulously crafted bone flutes mark the earliest known seven-note musical instruments in the world, reshaping the narrative of Chinese and global music history. According to experts, the presence of multiple flutes also suggests the possibility of ensemble performances. 

Researchers determined that these instruments are in what we think of as the key of G (one sharp). And the fact that they have seven holes could mean that they were used for melodies, rather than whistle sounds, according to experts. 

There are older instruments (roughly 43,000 years-old) that have been found in Europe. But they are in fragments and their identities as flutes has been highly debated. 

You can listen to these ancient flutes at our inaugural concert, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on  April 27, 3pm at Dr. Arturo Rando-Grillot Hall, UNLV.