Did Ancient Music Utilize Harmony? Part 3

Did Ancient Music Utilize Harmony? Part 3

We have record of the fact that the ancient Hebrew nation used instrumental   accompaniments with their songs because they were referred to as singer-players.  We have record of this practice as far back as the Genesis record. However, the prosodic system of the te’amim was used to notate these songs instead of the psalmodic system of the te’amim which was used in the book of Psalms, Proverbs, and part of Job.  Therefore, there are some questions concerning whether or not the prosodic system was truly monodic music.

Susanne Haik-Vantoura, who successfully deciphered the biblical te’amim and established that the notation of the entire OT text consisted of two notational systems, believed that the psalmodic music was choral music.  Although this is true concerning many of the psalms, it is doubtful of others since some of them were intimate prayers like the fifty first Psalm.  It would seem that, although this Psalm was delivered to the Chief musician, it would have best been performed as a solo rather than as a choral work. However, at this point in time we do not know for sure. There is also serious question as to whether the fifty first Psalm was ever intended to be performed publically at all since its intimate nature could indicate that it was left to posterity to be sung privately to God as a penitent prayer. 

Thought for the Day 

The prosodic system of the te’amim was a seven note diatonic scale and the psalmodic system was a six note diatonic scale.  Now we know where Western music received its heptatonic diatonic scale.