MUSIC (rna'zIk), (Heb. zeh-mawr').
lt seems probable that music is the oldest of all the fine arts. It is more than any other an im mediate work of nature. Hence we find it among all nations, even those which are totally ignorant of every other art.
(1) Early In.ventions. Some instruments of music are named in Scripture even before the deluge, as being invented by Juba!, one of Cain's descendants (Gen. iv :21) ; and some will regard this as confirmed by the common opinion of the Orientals. Chardin relates that the Persians and Arabians called musicians and singers Kayne, or 'descendants from Cain.' The instruments in vented by- Jubal seem to have remained in use after the flood, or at least the names were still in use, and occur in the latest books of the Old Testament. Music, in practical use, is almost constantly mentioned in connection with the song and the dance (Gen. xxxi :27 ; Exod. xv :2o), and was doubtless employed to elevate the former and regulate the latter. Women especially are seen to have employed it in this connection from the earliest times (Exod. xv :2o; Judg. xi :34; Sam. xviii :6). At a later period we trace the appearance of foreign girls in Palestine, as in Greece and Italy, who visited the towns like the Bayaderes of the present day (Is. xxiii:i6). Mu sic was also through all periods used in social meetings, and in public rejoicings (i Kings i :4o; Is. v :12 ; xiv :II ; xxiV :8; Amos vi :5; Amos v : 23 ; Mace. ix :39 ; Judith iii :8).
(2) Connected with Worship. By David mu sic was variously and conspicuously connected with the temple worship (i Chron. xxv :i) ; in particular, the Levitcs, in their several choirs, performed their music divided into different classes at the great sacrifices (2 Chron. xxix 25 ; xxx ; xxxv :15). The prophets also pear to have regardcd music as necessary to their services 0 Sam. x :5) ; and they used it some times for the purpose, apparently, of bringing their minds into the frame suited for prophetic inspirations (2 Kings iii :15). In the case of David playing before Saul, we have marked an interesting. evidence that the effect of music in soothing the perturbations of a disordered intel lect, was well known among the Hebrews (i Sam. xvi With respect to the nature of the Hebrew music, it was doubtless of the same essential character as that of other ancient nations, and of all the present Oriental nations; consisting not so much in harmony (in the modern sense of the terin), as in unison or melody.
(3) Melody. The old, the young, maidens,
etc., appear to have sung one part. The beauty of their music consisted altogether in melody. The instruments by which, in singing, this melody was accompanied, occupied the part of a sus tained base; and, if we arc disposed to apply in this case what Niebuhr has told us, the beauty of the concerts consisted in this—that other per sons repeated the music which had just been sung, three, four, or five notes, lower or higher. Such, for instance, was the concert which Aliriam held with her musical fellows, and to which the 'toph,' or tabret, furnished the continued base; just as Niebuhr has also remarked of the Arabian women of the present day, 'that when they dance or sing in their harem, they always beat the corresponding time upon this drum (Rciscb. 1St). To this mode of performance belongs the 24th Psalm, which rests altogether upon the va ried representation; in like manner, also, the 2oth and 21st Psalms. This was all the change it admitted; and although it is very possible that this monotonous, or rather unisonous music, might not be interesting to ears tuned to musical progressions, modulations, and cadenccs, there is something in it with which the Orientals are well pleased.
Music of this description could easily dispense veith the compositions which mark the time by notes; and the Hebrews do not appear to have known anything of musical notation; for that the accents served that purpose is a position which yet remains to be proved. At the best, the acccnt must have been an very imperfect instrument for this purpose, however high its antiquity.
The Hebrew music is judged to have been of a shrill character; for this woold result from the nature of the instruments—harps, flutes, and cym bals—which were employed in the temple service.
The manner of singing single songs was, it seems, ruled by that of others in the same meas ure, and it is usually supposed that many of the titles of the Psalms are intended to indicate the names of other songs according to which these were tn be sung. (See PSALMS, BOOK oF.) The allusions to music in the Scriptures are so incidental and concise that it will never be possible to form out of them a complete or connected view of the state of musical science among the ancjent Hebrews. The little lcnowledge which has been realized on the subject has been obtained chiefly through the patient labors and minute investiga tion of Ca'met, Forkel, Pfeiffer. Jahn, Winer, De Wette and others.