Music Education’s Connection to Ancient Bible Music Education-part 1

Music Education’s Connection to Ancient Bible Music Education-part 1

Mark and Gary were possibly correct in their belief that, “The Hebrews probably participated in the musical life during their enslavement there…” At least we know that Moses was because Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” A History of American Music Education, by Michael Mark and Charles Gary, p. 3.  However, we do not have any direct evidence given in the Bible that the Jewish people at large participated in Egypt’s musicing.  We are only left to our imagination about how they were possibly influenced by music and musicing during their captivity in Egypt. 

            It is from these conjectures that musicologists derive hypotheses about Moses learning musical notation from his education that included “all the wisdom of the Egyptians”.  Some hypothesize that he learned musical notation while he was trained as a son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  Others, more recently believe that it is possible that Moses received the Ten Commandments with the musical notated te’amim.