Ge 111

International Baptist College
474 Arayat Street Barangay Malamig. (632) 85314227 ftisidoro@ibcs.edu.ph ibcs.edu.ph

Mandaluyong City 1501 (632) 85336378 ftisidoro@gmail.com
GE 111
Course Title INTRODUCTION TO CHURCH MUSIC
No. of Units: 3 units
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A study of the methods and techniques for building and maintain a church music program
including financial management and choir development. Emphasis on trends in church music,
sound production and music selection for church services and special programs.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Florence Tica Isidoro, PhD
ftisidoro@ibcs.edu.ph
ftisidoro@gmail.com
09189128905
ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Weekly Quizzes and Assignments 15%
Class singing and Participation 20%
Preliminary and Midterm Exam 20%
Final Examinations 20%
Final Performance Task 25%
Original Composition with arrangement and performance
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK I: Definition of Music; Biblical antecedents
WEEK II: Debates on Secular and Sacred Music; Worship
WEEK III: The Psalms; Libretto and conveying text
WEEKS IV-VI: PITCH: Musical notation: Staff, clefs
Letter Names and Number names
WEEKS VII-IX: HARMONY: Intervals; Chord construction and reading
WEEK X: DYNAMICS; Congregation and Choir engaging
WEEKS XI-XII: DURATION: Notes and Rests
XIII-XV: RHYTHM: Pulses and Beats; Time signatures and patterns
XVI-XII: MELODY: Music composition and arrangement
IX-XX The Church Music Program
1. Worship
2. Comfort
3. Battle cry
4. Celebrations
5. Royalty
6. Retelling or recounting history
7. Comfort
8. Occupation / Profession
9. Self expression (Ps 137)
The word MUSIC is derived from the Greek word, MUSIKE or musique meaning the songs of
the goddesses.
M usic is of definite importance in the Bible and will continue into Heaven and the
New Heavens and New Earth.
Page Contents
1. Origin
2. Hebrews and music
3. Temple singers, choirs, music and musicians
4. Named musicians
5. Music in private life
6. Songs in Revelation
7. Hebrew and Greek words
8. Also see
Origin
Music developed very quickly after the Creation of Adam and Eve. Their
descendant Jubal was the inventor of musical instruments (Genesis 4:21).
Hebrews and music
After the Global Flood, the first mention of music is in the account of Laban’s interview
with Jacob (Genesis 31:27).
The Hebrews were enthusiastic about the cultivation of music. Their whole history and
literature provide abundant evidence of this.
 What is a Hebrew?
After their triumphal passage of the Red Sea, Moses and the children of Israel sang
their song of deliverance (Exodus 15).
The period of Samuel, David, and Solomon was the golden age of Hebrew music, as it
was of Hebrew poetry.

Music was now for the first time systematically cultivated. It was an essential part of
training in the schools of the prophets (1 Samuel 10:5; 19:19-24; 2 Kings 3:15; 1
Chronicles 25:6).
There now arose also a class of professional singers (2 Samuel 19:35; Eccl. 2:8).
Temple singers, choirs, music and

musicians
The temple was the great school of music. In the conducting of its services
large bands of trained singers and players on instruments were constantly employed (2
Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 15; 16; 23;5; 25:1-6).
Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as the singers,
with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, playing to raise sounds of joy. —1
Chronicles 15:16 NASB
The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with the musical instruments for
the Lord, which King David had made for giving praise to the Lord—“for
His faithfulness is everlasting”—whenever David gave praise through their ministry; the
priests on the other side blew trumpets and all Israel was standing. —2 Chronicles 7:6
NASB
Named musicians
There were Chief musician, and many musicians are mentioned by name in the Bible.
(partial list)
1. Jubal
2. King David —“a skillful musician on the harp” (1 Samuel 16:16; 16:18; 2 Kings
3:15; etc.) and a writer of numerous beloved songs which were sung publicly,
having been given to the music director with flute or stringed instrument
accompaniment instructions
3. Judah, a Levite
4. Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians
5. Asharelah
6. Azarel, a Levite musician
7. Bukkiah
8. Chanani (2), a chief musician of David, and a chief musician in time of Nehemiah
9. Chashabyahu (Chashabyah), a temple musician (1 Chronicles 25:3)

10. Eliathah
11. Ethan
12. Gedaliah (1 Chronicles 25:3)
13. Giddalti
14. Gilalay (Nehemiah 12:36)
15. Hanani
16. Hananiah (Chananyah), director of a division of musicians under David
17. Hashabiah
18. Heman
19. Hothir
20. Jeduthun
21. Jerimoth
22. Jeshaiah (1 Chronicles 25:3)
23. Joseph
24. Joshbekashah
25. Kenaniah, supervisor of the musicians
26. Maai (Maay) (Nehemiah 12:36)

27. Mahazioth
28. Mallothi
29. Mattaniah
30. Mattithiah
31. Milalay (Milalai) (Nehemiah 12:36)
32. Miqneyahu, a Levite musician (1 Chronicles 15:18; 15:21)
33. Nethaniah
34. Romamti-ezer
35. Shebuel
36. Shimei
37. Tseri (Zeri) (1 Chronicles 25:3)
38. Uzziel
39. Yechiel (Yechavel), a chief musician
40. Yeduthun, leader of temple choir whose descendants formed a perpetual temple
choir
41. Zaccur
42. Zeri
43. Many unnamed singers and musicians of various ages were trained for service at
the Tabernacle or the Temples and for special occasions
Music in private life
In private life, music also seems to have held an important place among the Hebrews (;
By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and wept,
When we remembered Zion.
Upon the willows in the midst of it
We hung our harps.
For there our captors demanded of us songs,
And our tormentors, jubilation, saying,
“Sing for us one of the songs of Zion!”
How can we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?… —Psalm 137 NASB excerpt
Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute —Isaiah 5:12
NASB excerpt
…I provided for myself male and female singers… —Eccl. 2:8 NASB excerpt
Those who recline on beds of ivory
And sprawl on their couches,
…Who improvise to the sound of the harp,
And like David have composed a songs for themselves… —Amos 6:4-6 NASB excerpt
The gaiety of tambourines ceases,
The noise of revelers stops,
The gaiety of the harp ceases.
—Isa. 24:8 NASB
…as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. —Luke 15:25
NKJV excerpt
Songs in Revelation
The book of Revelation mentions songs of joy, thanks, or praise (perhaps as many as
27) which take place during the future 70th “Week” described by Daniel, the Tribulation,
the 2nd Coming of Christ, and the Day of the Lord and the Millennium—all surround the
coming physical Kingdom of God.

…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each
one holding a harp… And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the
scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for
God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. —Revelation 5:8-9
NASB excerpt
and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living
creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who
had been redeemed from the earth. —Revelation 14:3 ESV
And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who were
victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name,
standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. —Revelation 15:2
And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God, the
Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! —
Revelation 15:3 NASB
Hebrew and Greek words

Hebrew language
 ‫( ִׁש יר‬noun) —transliteration: shiyr —meaning: song; musical —occurrences:

90 times
 ‫( ִמ ְזמֹור‬noun) —mizmor —meaning: a melody —occurrences: 57

 ‫( ָנַגן‬verb) —nagan —meaning: to touch or play a stringed instrument —
occurrences: 15
 ‫( ְנִגיָנה‬noun) —neginah or neginath —meaning: music —occurrences: 13

 ‫( ְזָמ ר‬noun) —zemar —meaning: music; to make music (in praise of God) —
occurrences: 4
 ‫( ִה ָּגיֹון‬noun) —higgayon —meaning: resounding music, meditation, musing

—occurrences: 4
 ‫— נצח‬natsach —meaning: musician; chief singer; musical director;

choirmaster
 ‫( ֶה ְמ ָיה‬noun) —hemyah —meaning: musical sound; music —occurrences: 1
Greek language
 ὨΙδή (noun) —transliteration: ódé —meaning: an ode; song; hymn —
occurrences: 7
 Ψαλμός (noun) —psalmos —meaning: a striking (of musical strings); a psalm;
song of praise —occurrences: 7
 ἌΙδω (verb) —adó —meaning: to sing; sang; singing —occurrences: 5
 Ψάλλω (verb) —psalló —meaning: to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing, sing
psalms; sing praises; play on a stringed instrument; making melody —
occurrences: 5
 Ὑμνέω (verb) —humneó —meaning: to sing; to laud; sing hymns to; praise —
occurrences: 4
 Ὕμνος (noun) —humnos —meaning: a hymn; sacred song; song of praise to
God —occurrences: 2
 Κιθαρῳδός (noun) —kitharódos —meaning: one who plays and sings to the
lyre; a singer who sings with a harp as accompaniment; harpist —occurrences: 2
 Συμφωνία (noun) —sumphónia —meaning: symphony; music; harmony of
instruments —occurrences: 1
 Μουσικός (noun) —mousikos —meaning: musician; skilled in the arts
(especially music); singer —occurrences: 1
Also see
 Chief musician
 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC in the Bible
 Alamoth
 Bell
 Cornet
 Cymbals
 Dulcimer
 Flute
 Gittith
 Harp
 Horn
 Maschil
 Neginah
 Neginoth
 Organ
 Psaltery
 Pipe
 Sackbut
 Songs
 Tabret
 Timbrel
 Trumpets
 Jubal
 Jubilee
 Temples
Article Version: July 29, 2021
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International Baptist College

474 Arayat Street Barangay Malamig. (632) 85314227 ftisidoro@ibcs.edu.ph ibcs.edu.ph

2. Hebrews and music

3. Temple singers, choirs, music and musicians

5. Music in private life

7. Hebrew and Greek words

descendant Jubal was the inventor of musical instruments (Genesis 4:21).

Hebrews and music

with Jacob (Genesis 31:27).

literature provide abundant evidence of this.

their song of deliverance (Exodus 15).

was of Hebrew poetry.

Temple singers, choirs, music and

Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 15; 16; 23;5; 25:1-6).

Chronicles 15:16 NASB

4. Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians

6. Azarel, a Levite musician

9. Chashabyahu (Chashabyah), a temple musician (1 Chronicles 25:3)

12. Gedaliah (1 Chronicles 25:3)

14. Gilalay (Nehemiah 12:36)

16. Hananiah (Chananyah), director of a division of musicians under David

22. Jeshaiah (1 Chronicles 25:3)

25. Kenaniah, supervisor of the musicians

26. Maai (Maay) (Nehemiah 12:36)

31. Milalay (Milalai) (Nehemiah 12:36)

32. Miqneyahu, a Levite musician (1 Chronicles 15:18; 15:21)

37. Tseri (Zeri) (1 Chronicles 25:3)

39. Yechiel (Yechavel), a chief musician

the Tabernacle or the Temples and for special occasions

Music in private life

By the rivers of Babylon,

There we sat down and wept,

When we remembered Zion.

Upon the willows in the midst of it

We hung our harps.

For there our captors demanded of us songs,

And our tormentors, jubilation, saying,

“Sing for us one of the songs of Zion!”

How can we sing the Lord’s song

In a foreign land?… —Psalm 137 NASB excerpt

Those who recline on beds of ivory

And sprawl on their couches,

…Who improvise to the sound of the harp,

The gaiety of tambourines ceases,

The noise of revelers stops,

The gaiety of the harp ceases.

—Isa. 24:8 NASB

coming physical Kingdom of God.

had been redeemed from the earth. —Revelation 14:3 ESV

standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. —Revelation 15:2

Revelation 15:3 NASB

Hebrew and Greek words

 ‫( ִׁש יר‬noun) —transliteration: shiyr —meaning: song; musical —occurrences:

 ‫( ִמ ְזמֹור‬noun) —mizmor —meaning: a melody —occurrences: 57

 ‫( ְנִגיָנה‬noun) —neginah or neginath —meaning: music —occurrences: 13

 ‫( ִה ָּגיֹון‬noun) —higgayon —meaning: resounding music, meditation, musing

 ‫— נצח‬natsach —meaning: musician; chief singer; musical director;

 ‫( ֶה ְמ ָיה‬noun) —hemyah —meaning: musical sound; music —occurrences: 1

 ὨΙδή (noun) —transliteration: ódé —meaning: an ode; song; hymn —

 Ψαλμός (noun) —psalmos —meaning: a striking (of musical strings); a psalm;

song of praise —occurrences: 7

 ἌΙδω (verb) —adó —meaning: to sing; sang; singing —occurrences: 5