Okla. Christian University Student Solves Centuries-Old Mystery

An Oklahoma Christian University student solved a 500-year-old musical mystery. She posted the discovery on her personal blog and is now getting responses from people around the world.

Amelia Hamrick may be the first person to ever play a song, hidden in a centuries old painting. She says she made the discovery by chance and never expected the reaction she's now getting.

When you first look at the painting, created more than 500 years ago, it takes your imagination on a journey.

"It was kind of by accident," said OC student, Amelia Hamrick.

Tuesday night Amelia decided to take a closer look at a high resolution picture of the painting, called the "Garden of Earthly Delights". It's a famous piece of artwork that historians say depicts the perils of life's temptations. 

"So we were just scrolling around, looking at all the tiny weird things," said Hamrick. "I was like, that guy has music on his rear end."

As far as Amelia knows, no one from an art analysis standpoint has actually tried to transcribe it.

"Because everybody assumed that he's just, he's not a musician. He's just slapping notes on there to make it look like music," said Hamrick.

It took Amelia about 30-minutes to transcribe the historic hidden treasure. Then bring it to life.

"For a painting that's so well known, and it's been in existence for centuries, that nobody has ever attempted to notate that, that would be pretty surprising," said OC Professor of Music, John Fletcher.

Fletcher says this discovery could be huge for the music community.

"We don't know of anyone else who has tried to realize the notation that shows up in the painting," said Fletcher.

Amelia is recording a second version of the song with her music professor John Fletcher.