History of music in the biblical period information
David Playing the Harp by Jan de Bray, 1670.
Knowledge of the biblical period is mostly from literary references in the Bible and post-biblical sources. Religion and music historian Herbert Lockyer, Jr. writes that "music, both vocal and instrumental, was well cultivated among the Hebrews, the New Testament Christians, and the Christian church through the centuries."[1] He adds that "a look at the Old Testament reveals how God's ancient people were devoted to the study and practice of music, which holds a unique place in the historical and prophetic books, as well as the Psalter."
The music of religious ritual was first used by King David: according to the Larousse Encyclopedia of Music, he is credited with confirming the men of the Tribe of Levi as the "custodians of the music of the divine service".[2] Historian Irene Hesk notes that of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, the 150 Psalms in the Book of Psalms, [many] ascribed to King David, have served as "the bedrock of Judeo-Christian hymnology," concluding that "no other poetry has been set to music more often in Western civilization."[3]
The study of ancient musical instruments has been practiced for centuries with some researchers studying instruments from Israel dating to the biblical period.[4] Archaeological and written data have demonstrated clearly that music was an integral part of daily life in ancient Israel. Figurines and iconographic depictions show that people played chordophones and frame drums, and that the human voice was essential as women and men sang love songs along with laments for the deceased. Data also describes outdoor scenes of music and dancing in sometimes prophetic frenzies, often with carefully orchestrated and choreographed musicians and singers within specially built structures.[4]: 106
According to ancient music historian Theodore Burgh, "If we were able to step into the . . . biblical period, we would find a culture filled with music . . . where people used music in their daily lives."[4] "Such music was capable of expressing a great variety of moods and feelings or the broadly marked antitheses of joy and sorrow, hope and fear, faith and doubt. In fact, every shade and quality of sentiment are found in the wealth of songs and psalms and in the diverse melodies of the people."[1]: X
^ abLockyer, Herbert Jr. All the Music of the Bible, Hendrickson Publ. (2004)
Knowledge ofthebiblicalperiod is mostly from literary references inthe Bible and post-biblical sources. Religion and music historian Herbert Lockyer...
92. Faust, Avraham (2012). Judah inthe Neo-Babylonian Period: The Archaeology of Desolation. Society ofBiblical Lit. p. 140 Albertz 2003a, pp. 95–96...
instrument. The word Gittit has also gained some usage as an Israeli girls’ name. Historyof religious Jewish musicHistoryofmusicinthebiblicalperiod Kinnor...
also feature in more modern musical movements and popular genres. Bible portal Exclusive psalmody Historyofmusicinthebiblicalperiod Penitential Psalms...
of law and religious observance. The surahs of this period emphasized his place among the long line ofBiblical prophets, but also differentiated the...
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ofmusic vary wildly throughout the world, every known culture partakes in it, and it is thus considered a cultural universal. The origins ofmusic remain...
throughout history. The current edition ofthe Masoretic Text is mostly inBiblical Hebrew, with a few passages inBiblical Aramaic (inthe books of Daniel...
Inthehistoryof Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period (also spelt mediaeval or mediæval) lasted approximately from 500 AD to 1500, although some...
biblical times, a postulated United Kingdom of Israel existed but then split into two Israelite kingdoms occupying the highland zone: the Kingdom of Israel...
evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago and initially lived as hunter-gatherers. They migrated out of Africa during the Last Glacial Period (Ice Age)...
prayers, and of secular music, such as klezmer. While some elements of Jewish music may originate inbiblical times (Biblicalmusic), differences of rhythm...
biblical canon is a set of texts (also called "books") which a particular Jewish or Christian religious community regards as part ofthe Bible. The English...
Hesiod inthe 8th – 7th century BC. One Biblicalperiodization scheme commonly used inthe Middle Ages was Saint Paul's theological division ofhistory into...
backgrounds. British biblical scholar John K. Riches wrote: [T]he biblical texts were produced over a periodin which the living conditions ofthe writers – political...
throughout the world and the periodinhistory when that tradition was developed: "Learn theHistory Behind Gamelan, Indonesian Music and Dance". ThoughtCo....
in thehistoryof Mesopotamia, after the Ubaid period and before the Jemdet Nasr period. Named after the Sumerian city of Uruk, this period saw the emergence...
The Plagues of Egypt (Hebrew: מכות מצרים), inthe account ofthe Book of Exodus, are ten disasters inflicted on biblical Egypt by the God of Israel (Yahweh)...
Eli – High priest of Shiloh in ancient Israel Elkanah – Husband of Hannah and father of Samuel inthe Books of Samuel Samuel – Biblical prophet and seer...
Jerusalem in Bible and Archaeology: The First Temple Period. Society ofBiblical Lit. pp. 117–162. ISBN 978-1-58983-066-0. Archived from the original on...
In Christianity, theBiblical Magi (/ˈmeɪdʒaɪ/ or /ˈmædʒaɪ/; singular: magus), also known as the Three Wise Men, Three Kings, and Three Magi, are distinguished...
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