Summary of the Archaeological Aspects of Jewish Music

Summarizing the known fact on the music of Bible the most salient points, to be of interest to present day composers can be itemized as follow:

• Vocal is the most predominant element in Jewish music
• Man voice the Cantor and male chorus have been used since the Early Temple of Solomon times
• There is a vast instrumentarium cited in many places in the Bible. Pipes, percussion (metals and skins), lyres and ``harps'' were in use. The shofar more than an ``instrument of music'' has and still have a highly symbolic role and is considered more a ``religious instrument'' rather than a ``musical instrument''
• During the Medieval period, instruments were banned from Synagogue service but there is strong evidence that they were used before that.
• A ``notational'' system exists in the Book of Psalms. This system is highly codified and structured. It served as the basis of the education of cantors for the religious services.