Coptic history is necessary to an understanding of the state of Coptic church music. From ancient times, Egypt has been under the influence of various races, that is, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks. Nevertheless, the Copts have been less strongly influenced by these races up to now. The reasons are as follows. (1) Since the Copts quarrelled with the Greeks and the Latins from the West in the Council of Chalcedon in 451 over issues of nationalism and Christology, they chose to live their religious life entirely on their own and systematically avoided contacts with the Byzantine and Roman branches of Christendom. (2) After the Arabs invation of 641, the Copts began to experience exactions and persecutions. So, they were gradually reduced. In spite of that, we can still say that the Moslems have treated the Copts rather generously. (3) "The Copts are a people of indomitable presumption and intrigue" "One of the most remarkable traits in the character of the Copts is their bigotry." (E. Lane. The Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians) In their history, the Copts lived so isolatedly and absentmindedly that they forgot their tradition and even themselves.
Consequently, it is to be assumed that even today Coptic music has elements of the music of the ancient Egyptians and the early Christians.