Musical Meaning in Musical Sounds part 2

Musical Meaning in Musical Sounds part 2    

As Bible music historians know, both of these instruments were pitch producing instruments which were capable of playing accurate musical melodies.  With this knowledge in mind one can understand the meaning of the Greek words diastole and phthoggos which were translated “distinction in the sounds” in the AV.  The word diastole means distinction or accurate and the word phthoggos means the musical notes being played.  So, if the instruments played the intended notes accurately their sound sent a distinctive message to the hearer.  Note that nothing is written in this passage of Scripture about the singing of words.  The distinction of the message came through the sounds produced by accurate production of the musical notes being played by the instrument.  The message sent by the musician was the result of the message of the music rather than by words sung by a musician. 

        The common man in ancient Israel knew what the sounds meant merely by the selection of tones that the musician played.  I believe that there is much more musical truth imbedded in the meaning or this Bible reference than is commonly believed or understood by musicians today. We know that the way that the ancient musicians musiced sent either clear or “uncertain” messages to the hearer.