The Banner-Democrat., 1900-10-20
SOLOMON'S TEMPLE MUSIC.
REALIZED AS THE HIGHEST IDEAL OF
RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
What Is Proved by the Researches OF the
Historians OF the Jews-David estab.
ttshed the First Music School In
History.

lCdl SeTflCe, anu tle caiShCS OA sAN
historians of the Jews have proved
that here we find the very highest
ideal of a religious musical service
fully realized. The open-air process
sions and songs Of praise and thanks
giving, and the brilliant pageant at the
procession of the Ark were only faint
foreshadowings of the glories OF the
Temple service.
The care Of the sacred music was |
one Of the first objects Of King Solo |
mon. Being himself both q poet and a
musician, as well as possessed of un-
mited wealth and autoeratic author
y, there was nothing to hinder him
ON carrying out his fullest desires
as to the character of the worship In
his magnificent building. He prescrib-
ed its minutest details. The tribe Of
Levi was especially assigned to the
oversight of the musical part OF the
the service. David had established the
first music school in history, and ap-
pointed the singers for the worship in
the Tabernacle. Solomon confirmed
these appointments and greatly in
creased and extended their musical
duties. The Levites were divided in
to twenty-four orders, each with
twelve singing masters. These 2SS in
structors had to wear priestly vest
ments when officiating in the Temple.
Four thousand of the Levites were set
apart as singers and instrumentalists
and these were under the instruction
and charge Of the 2SS singing masters.
The boys of the tribe of Levi occupied
the lower steps Of platform and the
men the higher steps. These were di-
rected by the singing masters who
were on duty, and the whole mass OF
voices rose in unison in the songs OF
praise. All the choristers were cloth
ed in vestments of fine white linen,
which were appropriated to their use
and a mark of their position, just as
the Levites and priests had their spe-
cial vestments. They sang antiphon-
ally, by sides. In fact, the psalms
which taken together formed the
great hymn book Of the Jewish Tenn
Ole, were sung as grand double Choir
uses by these trained singers.
The Rev. DR.. Alfred Edersheim, In
his work, 1.-THE Temple: Its Ministry
and Services" gives full description
| of the singing of the "Hallet" as part
| of the Temple service at the Staying OF
the Paschal lamb. Shortly before the
burning of the incense, and the trim
| ming of the lamps was the time for
this service. In its proper turn, body
| Of Israelites large enough to fill with
out oyercrowding the court OF the
priests, and each carrying a lamb un-
der his arm, was admitted. Immedi-
ately the massive gates were closed
be lind them. The priests blew a
threefold blast from their silver trum-
pets when the Passover was slain. Al
together, the scene was most impress
sive. All along the court, up to the al
tar of burnt offering, priests stood In
two rows, the one holding golden, the
other silver bowls. In these, the blood
of the Paschal lambs, which each Is
raelite slew for himself, as the repre-
sentative of his company at the Pas
chal supper, was caught by a priest
who handed 1t to his colleague, receiv
ing back an empty bowl, and so thu
bowls with the blood were passed uI
to the priest at the altar, who terket
1t in one let at the base of the altar
While this was going on, a solemn
| hymn of praise was raised, the Leyite
leading in song, and the offerers eth
er repeating after them or merely re
spending. Every first line of a psalm
was repeated by the people, while t
each of the others they responded b.
a 'Hallelujah', or Praise ye tn
Lord"
The instruments which were used Il
ACCOMPANYING the singing of tn
psalms consisted of harps, timbrels
psalteries, trumpets, drums, shophar
and flutes. Stringed Instruments wer
employed in the penltential psalms
and the stronger and more sonorou
instruments for the hymns Of praise
The manner of singing the Psalm
| in the Temple service was called car
tilation. This is described as a kin
of chant. it's character varying froI
time to time and in different places
Its irregularity rendered it singuiarl
appropriate for use to poems OF sue
a complicated and constantly changin
rhythm as the Psalms.
In the second Temple, built after til
. return from the Babylonian captivit,
7 the psalm singing differed in some r
t spects from that in the first tempt
From the Talmud we learn that clea
ly defined traditions are found. a
! cording to which, on sign given
$ the cymbals, twelve Levites standin
. on the broad step of a stairway lea
Ing from the Place Of the Congreg
ton to the outer Court Of the Priest
playing upon nine Tyres, two harl
and one pair Of cymbals, began Il
= singing Of the psalm, while the off1cia
. ing priest poured out the wine offe
4 ing. Younger Levites played on 9th
4 instruments, but did not sing, viii
!. the Levitical boys strengthened Il
melody by singing and not playin
The pauses Of the psalm, or Its di'
sions, were indicated by blasts Of Il
l. trumpets at the right of the cymbt
4 lists.
10 While 1t is almost certain that G
= choir Of the first Temple was ma
= only, 1t Is equally certain that wom
J. were admitted as singers in the 81
| ond Tamnle for according to EZRA