Precentor Ne 12:42
Chambers for musicians in the temple, in Ezekiel's vision Eze 40:44
INSTRUMENTS OF
Invented by Jubal Ge 4:21
Made by Tyrians Eze 28:13
See Trumpet
CYMBAL
See Cymbal
HARP
See Harp
PIPE
See Pipe
PSALTERY
See Psaltery
TABRET
See Timbrel
TIMBREL, a tambourine
See Timbrel
TRUMPET
See Trumpet
SYMBOLS USED IN
ALAMOTH
(Literally virgins) .A musical term which appears in 1Ch 15:20
And in the title of Ps 46:1
(It seems to indicate the rendering of the song by female voices, possibly soprano) -AL-TASCHITH
(it seems to have been used to indicate the kind of ode, or the kind of melody in which the ode should be sung.)
HIGGAION Ps 92:3
(According to Gesenius, it signifies the murmuring tone of a harp, and hence that the music should be rendered in a plaintive manner.) Ps 9:16
(Combined with “Selah,” it may have been intended to indicate a pause in the vocal music while the instruments rendered an interlude.) Ps 19:14
(Mendelssohn translates it “meditation, thought.” Hence, the music was to be rendered in a mode to promote devout meditation.)
MAKALATH, MASCHIL, LEANNOTH
(Authorities grope in darkness as to their signification. They may indicate the instruments to be played, or the melody to be sung)
MASCHIL
This musical sign occurs in the titles of Ps 32:1; 42:1; 44:1; 45:1; 52:1; 53:1; 54:1; 55:1; 74:1; 78:1; 88:1; 89:1; 142:1
(The meaning is obscure. But its signification where it occurs elsewhere than in the titles of Psalms is equivalent to the English word “instruction,” or to become wise by instruction; hence Ps 47:7: “Sing ye praises with understanding.”)
MICAHTAM
(Luther interprets this as “golden,” that is, “precious.” Ewald interprets it as signifying a plaintive manner.)
MUTH-LABBEN
In the title of Ps 9:1
(Authorities, ancient and modern, differ as to the probable signification. Gesenius and De Wette interpret it, “with the voice of virgins, by boys.” Others derive the word from a different Hebrew root, and interpret it as indicating that the Psalm was a funeral ode.)
NEGINAH and NEGINOTH
(Its use seems to have been to indicate that the song should be accompanied by stringed instruments.) -NEHILOTH
Appears in the title of Ps 5:1
(It seems to indicate, according to Gesenius, that when this Psalm was sung it was to be accompanied by wind instruments.) -SELAH
(This term appears frequently in the Psalms. Its use is not known. Possibly it signified a pause in the vocal music while an instrumental interlude or finale was rendered.)
SHEMINITH
(Translated “eighth,” probably indicates the measure, movement, or pitch.)
SHIGGAION
In the title of Ps 7:1
And its plural, SHIGIONOTH, in the title of Hab 3:1
(Supposed to be a musical term to guide in rendering the song. At the close of the chapter, the author refers the ode “to the chief musician, on my stringed instruments.” The term may suggest the movement in interpreting the music set to it.)
(Seems to indicate the manner in which these Psalms were to be rendered. Kimchi, Tremellius, and Eichhorn render it “hexachorda,” that is, that in singing these Psalms instruments of six strings were to accompany.)
UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Ge 31:27; Ex 15:1,20,21; 21:17-20; Jud 5:1-3; 11:34; 1Sa 18:6,7; 2Sa 19:35; 1Ki 1:40; 1Ch 6:31,32; 15:16-22,24,27,28; 16:4-39,41,42; 22:3,5,6,27,30; 25:1,5,6,7,8; 2Ch 5:12,13; 20:19,21,22,28; 23:13,18; 29:25-28; 31:2; 35:15,25; Ezr 2:64; 3:10,11; Neh 12:24,27-31; Job 21:12; 30:31; Ps 33:1-4; 68:4,25,26,32-35; 81:1-3; 87:7; 92:1-3; 95:1,2; 98:1-8; 104:33; 105:2; 135:1,2,3; 137:1-6; 144:9; 149:1-3,6; 150:1-6; Pr 25:20; Ec 2:8; Isa 5:12; 14:11; 16:10; 23:16; 24:8,9; 30:29,32; Jer 31:4; Eze 26:13; 33:32; Da 3:4,6,7; Am 6:5; 8:10; Mt 9:23; 11:17; Mr 14:26; 1Co 14:15; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; Heb 2:12; Re 14:2,3; 18:22
See Praise
See Psalms