For everyone who's read the Bible and wondered what David's harp, or Nebuchadnezzar's sackbut and cornett really were, Jeremy Montagu, retired curator of Oxford's Bate Collection of Historical Instruments, has composed an astoundingly thorough investigation and explanation of the musical instruments that pepper the pages of Western Civilization's most holy book. This is a detailed study of all the musical instruments mentioned in the Bible, using the resources of linguistics, organology, and ethnomusicology to identify and describe them. Every reference to an instrument is noted and all the misconceptions of translation are corrected. The Bible, as we know it in English, is a translation, and the history of biblical translations into Aramaic, Greek, Latin and other languages is one of guesswork. The substitution of the musical instruments from the translator's era for those of the original author is as common as it is overlooked. Jubal did not have an organ, nor David a harp. This book uses all the resources available to establish what each instrument really was, what it looked like, and how it was played and is arranged in the same order as the King James Bible, with explanation where this differs from other versions in English. As well as a full bibliography, there are three indexes. The first is of Biblical Citations so that readers may check every mention in the Bible from its chapter and verse. The second is a quadrilingual parallel citation in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English, so that each reference can be crosschecked. The third is a general index. The four biblical languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, are used to the full, and the original texts are cited frequently. There are 18 illustrations, some of which are archeological remains, some ethnographic parallels, and one is of the sole biblical instrument still in regular use: the ram's horn which brought down the walls of Jericho. Musical Instruments of the Bible is perfect for university theology and comparative religion depa

About the Author
Jeremy Montagu is a private museum curator in Oxford, United Kingdom. He is a retired Oxford University lecturer and curator of the Bate Collection of Historical Instruments. He has published several books on musical instruments and has written for such journals as the Galpin Society Journal, Early Music, and FoMRHI Quarterly.

Reviews
The book includes bibliographical notes, illustrations, a multilingual list of all musical instruments mentioned in the Bible, and concludes with a remarkable chapter on the manner in which the instruments were used in practical performance. * International Review Of Biblical Instruments *
With this book, Jeremy Montagu adds to our knowledge as well as to our speculations about musical instruments in the Bible. Montagu offers a fun of information spanning several thousand years on several continents...He brings to his subject considerable experience and expertise... * Journal of The American Musical Instrument Society *
The book reflects the most current scholarship about these ancient instruments. It is sure to be the standard comprehensive reference on the subject for decades to come. Highly recommended to all who are interested in the topic. It is a valuable resourceto ensure accuracy in translating the names of instruments for everyone working in the field of Bible translation. We can thank Dr. Montagu for the results of his decades of study and research presented in this book. It should help us have clearer understanding and more accurate mental pictures ourselves, and provide better instrument identification in future translations... * Ethnodoxology *
The book reflects the most current scholarship about these ancient instruments. It is sure to be the standard comprehensive reference on the subject for decades to come. Highly recommended to all who are interested in the topic. It is a valuable resource to ensure accuracy in translating the names of instruments for everyone working in the field of Bible translation. We can thank Dr. Montagu for the results of his decades of study and research presented in this book. It should help us have clearer understanding and more accurate mental pictures ourselves, and provide better instrument identification in future translations. * Ethnodoxology *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810842823
Author Jeremy Montagu
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 224mm * 145mm * 18mm