In view of the fact that our book of Psalms is really the hymnal of the Jewish church, it is but natural that we should find notations in this famous book suggesting how the various hymns were intended to be sung, just as in our modern hymnals it is usual to find tunes carefully annotated for the guidance of the singer.
It is noteworthy that in the headings to many of the Psalms our Common Version refers to "the chief Musician." Many authorities feel that this person was simply what we would call a "musical director" or "choirmaster," and the Bible contains various references to those who sang under his direction. For example, Psalm 46 is described as "A Song upon [or 'for'] Alamoth," where Alamoth is simply the usual Hebrew term for "maidens"; and it is supposed that here we have a hymn designed to be sung either by soprano voices, or by men singing falsetto. On the other hand, Psalms 6 and 12 are designated as "upon [or 'for'] Sheminith," a word derived from the Hebrew shemonah, "eight," and so meaning "octave." In all probability it is the lower octave which is here indicated, and the cryptic notation "upon Sheminith" may justifiably be rendered "for bass voices," as in Dr. Moffatt's translation.
In the Psalter, mention is made of both wind and string instruments, which were to be used to accompany certain Psalms. Thus in the headings of six of the Psalms, including, for example, the fifty-fourth and the fifty-fifth, we find the phrase "on Neginoth"; and since this term means "stringed instruments," it is evident that the Psalms so marked were set to the music of either the lyre or the harp, which were commonly used in the Biblical period. The fifth Psalm, however, is prefaced with the words "upon Nehiloth," a word used to describe wind instruments in general, and more especially flutes.
