MUSIC. It seems probable that music is the oldest of all the fine arts. It is more than any other an immediate work of nature. Hence we find it among all nations, even those which are totally ignorant of every other art. Some instru ments of music are in Scripture named even before the deluge, as being invented by Jubal, 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 call musicians and singers Rayne, 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 O. T. Music, in practical use, is almost constantly mentioned in connection with the song and the dance (Gen. xxxi. 27 ; Exod. xv. 20), and was doubtless em ployed to elevate the former and regulate the latter. Women especially are seen to have em ployed it in this connection from the earliest times (Exod. xv. 20 ; Judg. xi. 34 ; I 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. 16). Music was also through all periods used in social meetings, and in public rejoicings (I Kings i. 40 ; Is. v. 12 ; xiv.
; xxiv. 8; Amos vi. 5 ; Luke xv. 25 ; I Maccab. ix. 39 ; Judith iii. 8). By David music was vari ously and conspicuously connected with the temple worship (1 Chron. xxv. 1) ; in particular, the Levites, in their several choirs, performed their music divided into different classes at the great sacrifices (2 Chron. xxix. 25 ; xxx. 21 ; xxxv. 15). [That there was a female choir in the temple-ser vice is not certainly proved, as some have thought, by I Chron. xxv. 5 ; but it is rendered probable by Ezra ii. 65, and Neh. vii. 67]. The prophets also appear to have regarded music as necessary to their services (I Sam. x. 5) ; and they used it sometimes for the purpose, apparently, of bringing their minds into the frame suited for prophetic in spirations (z Kings iii. 15). In the case of David playing before Saul, we have marked an interest ing evidence that the effect of music in soothing the perturbations of a disordered intellect, was well known among the Hebrews (I Sam. xvi. 16).
It would be interesting to know to what ex tent the Israelites, during their sojourn in Egypt, where they became a nation, profited by the musical science and instruments of that country. [That the patriarchs had music and musical instru ments before this is evident from Gen. xxxi. z6, 27, where Laban says to Jacob that had he made known to him his purpose to depart, he would have sent him away' with mirth and with songs, with tabret [toph] and harp [kinnor].' This seems to indicate that such was a usage among the people to whom Laban belonged]. As Abraham was of the same race, it is probable that there must have been in the party which he brought from Aram, and in the larger party which Jacob took into Egypt, many persons by whom this native music was practised, and to whom it was dear ; and they were almost certain to preserve and transmit it to their children. If we could rely on the assumption that the celebrated painting at Beni-Hassan really represents the arrival of the Israelites in Egypt, we should thence learn that they were in possession of a lyre peculiar to themselves, or more probably adopted from the Canaanites. Whatever instru ments they had before they went down to Egypt they doubtless retained, although they may have added to their musical science and their instruments while in that country. One people adopts the musical instruments of another, without also adopt ing its music. If we find this to be the case now, how much more so in those ancient times, when the absence of musical notation made every air a matter of tradition—since the traditions of one people are not usually imparted to foreigners, or sought after by a foreign people. Hence, although we have no doubt that the musical instruments which we read of in Scripture -may find their types in the Egyptian monuments, we are unable even to conjecture how much they were indebted to the music of that people, of which indeed we know almost as little as of that of the Hebrews, although we know more of their instruments.