Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894/Music

by Palestine Exploration Fund

 

VII.—Music.

Although the Jews of Europe have long been distinguished as musicians, there is no doubt that the music of the Temple, like all other Oriental music, was rude and monotonous. The instruments^[1] used were wind (Nehiloth) and stringed (Neginoth) with various instruments for beating. The silver trumpet was accompanied by the Shophar or ram's horn, and a horn of the ibex with a gold mouthpiece (Rosh hash Shanah, iii, 3) proclaimed the new year. The halil or "pipe" no doubt resembled that still in use, and the abub was a reed pipe. The harp and lute (nebel) were also sacred instruments (Kelim, xv, 6), but the Levites' lute differed from that of the ordinary singer, in having no hole in the body of the instrument. Marcuph (מרכוף) or the "musical horse" (Kelim, xv, 6; xvi, 7) was a wooden instrument like a horse, and considered pure; but Niktemon (נקתמון, with certain kinds of harp and timbrel, wer profane instruments (Kelim, xv, 6): these instruments were carried in cases (xvi, 7). The cymbal was used in the Temple court (Succah, v, 4), at the feast of Tabernacles, with harps, lutes, and trumpets. A peculiar instrument (Tamid, iii, 8) was the Magrupha (מגרופה) which, according to some, was only the fire shovel of the altar, but according to others a gong.^[2] That it made a loud noise is certain, and the word also means a "spoon." The musical instruments of the Mishnah are in short, with few exceptions, those of the Bible, to which the Toph or small drum still in use must be added.

1. Greek names for musical instruments, Κίθαρος Σαμβύκη Ψαλτήριον and Σνμφονία, are said to occur in the Book of Daniel (iii, 5, 29), but it is not certain that any of these words are of Greek origin. The second was of foreign origin, and all may have been derived from Persians or Medes.
2. Dr. Chaplin, in writing to me, compares the modern Nâkûs used in Christian churches and monasteries in Palestine instead of a bell; and says that the Magrupha is described as a curved and perforated piece of iron.