Did Ancient Music Utilize Harmony? Part 6

Did Ancient Music Utilize Harmony? Part 6

So, what does all this previous discussion of music history, theory and ancient musical harmonic practice mean to a twenty first century Christian musician?  First of all, Christian musicians of all people should be aware of current knowledge of ancient Bible music.  Ignorance of ancient music is certainly not “a state of bliss” for the Christian musician who is either an educator or a minister of music.

 As we all know knowledge in the late twentieth and early twenty first century has increased exponentially and because it has we all have a responsibility to have at least some knowledge of this   information.  In an age when musicians make subtle fun of the Bible’s authenticity and relevance, I believe that it is absolutely necessary for Christian musicians to understand why one can have legitimate respect for what the Bible teaches about music.  Recent historical knowledge of the structure of the formal properties of Bible music and the structure of the music of other cultures that were near Israel has strengthened musician’s respect for the music of the Bible. 

Thought for the Day  

Many serious students of the Old Testament refuse to believe that the te’amim of the OT represents a precise musical notation because they believe that if it was such a notation it would have been deciphered centuries ago.  I would like to ask these scholars, “Why were the Dead Sea Scrolls not found until 1948?”