Hebrew Music Instruments

Music is a great form of communication; it facilitates religious ceremonies, and celebrates victorious battles. Jubal was the inventor of Hebrew musical instruments. The whole Hebrew history and literature are proving that the Hebrews are really committed to cultivate music. We all remember that after the passage of the Red Sea, Moses and his people sang their song of happiness and freedom.

The time of David and Solomon is the golden age of Hebrew music; it is systematically cultivated and it is the main part of training in schools. Hebrew musical instruments are also used in their private life. Among the Hebrew musical instruments, an important place is given to stringed instruments, such as the kinnor - a kind or farp, the nebel – a lyre, the sabbeka- a lute. Among the wind instruments, we mention the ugab – a syrinx, the qeren – a horn, the shophar – a trumpet, the hafsoserah – a trumpet, the halil – a flute, the sumponyah – a bagpipe. The Hebrew musical instruments from the percussion category are the toph – a drum, the paamon – the bells, the tseltselim – cymbals, the mennan’im – cornets, the shalishim – triangles.

Old Hebrew musical instruments
The bells were very important Hebrew musical instruments; they were attached to the hem of the high priest’s ephod. The cornet is named shophar in Hebrew because of its brightness and its clear sound. Cymbals are also very popular Hebrew musical instruments; two pieces of brass, one for each hand, are clashed together to produce a really loud sound. The dulcimer is a Hebrew musical instrument; it is a kind of lute. The flute is composed of a number of pipes; it is common also among other people from Asia.

The harp (kinnor in Hebrew) is the national musical instrument of the Hebrews; the harp was invented by Jubal and is used as accompaniment to Hebrew songs such as praise to God. The horn is not only a Hebrew musical instrument; it is also used metaphorically for strength and honor, as emblems or power. The organ is a wind Hebrew musical instrument, similar to the Pan’s pipe.

The psaltery is another Hebrew musical instrument, a king of lyre, with twelve strings. The tabret is a one-sided drum, a kind of tambourine; the timbrel is also a small drum or a tambourine. Trumpets are a large variety of forms, and are made in different materials. Silver trumpets are specific Hebrew musical instruments, and are used by the highest priests to announce a war or a festival.