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As regards the ancient titles of the Psalms we shall be considering these in another
study. One recurring title is: To (or for) the Chief Musician. It occurs in connection
with fifty-five Psalms. These must have been composed and later handed over to the
choir master of the Temple for use as hymns of praise and worship in the Temple
services.
Systematic training in music started with the schools of the prophets inaugurated by
Samuel (see I Sam. 10: 5) and note the association with prophecy. This is confirmed in
I Chron. 25: 1-3:
"Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of
Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries,
and with cymbals . . . . ." (and note verses 2 and 3).
Note also the early reference to music in Gen. 31: 26, 27. Music played a large
part in the worship of the Lord as described in the O.T. and this was all in accordance
with His mind and will. As regards musical instruments themselves we are not certain of
some of them and their characteristics. Psalteries and harps would be stringed
instruments. Organs would be nothing like our modern instruments but would be reed
pipes. Trumpets were silver and ram's horns. The tabret was like the tambourine and the
timbrel was a drum. Could we have heard the sound of these O.T. orchestras and the
music they played, more than likely we should have been puzzled. Our Western ears
would have heard nothing like it. It is practically certain that there was no harmony as
we know it today, but singing was in unison or in octaves, possibly like plain-song and
the natural speech rhythm we now have in singing the psalms. This does not mean that
such music was not impressive. One has only to read the descriptions in the O.T. of
special occasions when praise and rejoicing were accorded to the Lord. Such a time was
the procession of the Ark as recorded in II Sam. 6: 5:
"And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of
instruments made of fir wood, even on harps and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on
cornets and cymbals" (see also I Chron. 15: & 16: and note xv.16,27,28; xvi.41,42).
Surely two of the most impressive occasions were the crowning of Solomon and the
dedication of the Temple:
"So when David was old and full of days he made Solomon his son king over Israel
. . . . . and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David
to praise therewith" (I Chron. 23: 1, 5).
Imagine an orchestra of 4,000 players! We sometimes go in for massed bands today
but seldom is there anything to match this! The number of the choir is given as 288 in
I Chron. 25: 7, small by comparison, but this chapter is dealing with the normal services
of the Temple.
At the dedication of the Temple to the Lord we have the striking detail that is given in
II Chron. 5:, and the whole chapter 5: should be read. Here is the conclusion: