Musicians

There must have been two kinds of music, and their exponents belonged to very different grades in society. The higher kind, which was probably very stereotyped, was taught and performed by the priests, and was more or le religious, while the popular music which the people loved to have at their feasts was provided by paid entertainers who were usually accompanied by dancers, if indeed they did not dance themselves. That the Pharaoh enjoyed singing and musical entertainments is evident from the fact that there was a functionary who bore the title “Superintendent of song and of the recreation of the king”; but the king never seems to have done particular honour to any performers, nor do we hear of any musician of high rank. There were both men and women performers. (See Music and Musical Instruments.)