Song Leaders? part 5

       For the past four days we have been discussing the topic of what a minister of music and or a song leader should be like--actually how one should act and look when he or she is leading musical worship. This discussion has included conducting techniques (utilizing both arms) , facial expression, body language, and emotion and meaning through expressive conducting techniques. We have also considered whether or not a song leader has the right and responsibility to let the joy of the Lord be expressed in an emotional way through conducting techniques and his or her visage. 
       Today we are going to look at what the Bible has to say about this Chief Musician.  The Book of Psalms refers to the chief musician fifty-four times.  The Hebrew word from which the words chief musician are translated in the A.V. is natsach (5329).  This word means to be eminent, to glitter from a distance and be superintendent.  These music directors were chosen to supervise the business of making music unto Jehovah in the Temple.
       Other names for these music directors were: chief singer  (natsach 5329) in Habakkuk 3:19; overseer (paqiyd 6496) in Nehemiah 12:42; principle (rosh 7218) in Nehemiah 11:17 which connoted being first in rank or being captain; chief (sar 8269) of the Levite musicians in I Chronicles 15:22, meaning to be a head person or a master musician; and chief ( rosh 7218) of the fathers of the Levites in I Chronicles 9:33.  All of these names carry the meaning of a "head person" or leader in charge of music who has skill, and who is a responsible leader.
       Special note should be made of the word natsach (5329).  This term used in the title of fifty-four of the Psalms connotes a person with great charisma.  This musician who is a song leader was said to "glitter from afar".  This person was to be a powerful song leader (and much more) and an accomplished musician.  So, we can see this chief musician conductor was an eminent leader of Temple music.  This  Bible definition of a song director is philosophically far from the retiring "vanilla song leader that some Christians suppose.