Photo by Scott Pickering

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Shake Tambourine's Old Testament Cousin

King David and his companions were obviously excited about 
bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.  In the 
procession, a number of instruments are being played 
according to Scripture:
"And David and all the house of Israel played before the 
LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on 
harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, 
and on cymbals."                               2 Samuel 6:5 KJV
My research indicates that the band for this event may have
included a distant relative to the shake tambourine.
Some versions of the Bible use the word, castanets instead
of cornets (as the above KJV).
"This word (castanet) is incorrectly translated “cornets” in 
the King James Version.  The castanet was probably about 
the same instrument as the Egyptian sistrum…a loop-shaped 
metal frame through which were passed loose rods at the 
ends of which were rings.  The instrument was held by a 
long handle and was rattled during songs and dances." 
  
Fortune, A.W. "Castanets,"  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
edited by James Orr.  Grand Rapids, Michigan: by William D. Eerdmans 
Publishing, 1939
The sistrum seems to be a Biblical percussion instrument
with a sound and playing technique that resembles the shake
tambourine.  

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