The modern Greek word "μουσική" (mu-see-KEE) ≈ "music".

The word "music" replaced the Old English word "dream" ≈ "music, joy".

The ancient Greek word "μουσική" ≈ "music" comes from the "muses" of Greek mythology who were the goddesses who were the source of poetry, songs, myths, etc.

Over time, the meaning of the word narrowed to what we call "music".

In Genesis, the Bible mentions Jubal, a pre-flood man, who is attributed with the harp and organ.


Might the name Hebrew "Jubal" be related to "jubilation" which comes from the Latin but had influence from semitic languages? The Hebrew word "ובל" (yu-bal) ≈ "Jubal".

The English word "psalm" and comes, through French, from the Latin word "psalmus" ≈ "psalm" which comes from the ancient Greek word "ψαλμός" ≈ "twang sound from plucked strings".

The ancient Greek word "κιθαρα" ≈ "stringed instrument" is the source, through Spanish, Arabic and Latin, of the English word "guitar"

The ancient Greek word "ὄργανον" ≈ "instrument, implement" and often meant a musical instrument.

The modern Greek word "τραγουδώ" (tra-gu-THO) ≈ "sing" and which means, literally, "goat song" or "goat ode".

The ancient Greek word "μουσικών" ≈ "music" appears 7 times in the LXX (Septuagint), 4 times in Daniel.

Many other musical instruments are named and are left for a later discussion.

The Hebrew word "בשרים" (be-si-rim) ≈ "singing".

The Greek word for "music", as in musical sounds, appears four times in Daniel as part of the fiery furnace story in chapter 3.

In chapter 2, Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream where he is the head of gold, and other empires that follow him are the chest, belly, legs, and feet.

This appears to go to Nebuchadnezzar's head and in chapter 3, he has created a large statue of gold and everyone is to worship this statue. This is the set-up of the fiery furnace story.

We are introduced to Nebuchadnezzar's rag-tag band in Chapter 3, verse 5, 7, 10 and 8.

Before the fiery furnace episode in Daniel, musical instruments are mentioned many times as part of Nebuchadnezzar's rag-tag band.

The English word "sackbut" comes from the French word "sacqueboute" ≈ "sackbut" which comes from two French words.

• The French word "sacquer" ≈ "push".
• The French word "bouter" ≈ "pull".

A sackbut is a brass instrument involving push and pull movements that descended from the trumpet and eventually resulted in the trombone.

The English word "guitar" comes from Spanish, through Arabic, from the Latin word "cithara" ≈ "stringed instrument" which comes from the ancient Greek word "κιθάρα" ≈ "stringed instrument".
The ancient Greek word "σαμβύκη" ≈ "sambuca" which is a triangular musical instrument of four strings. The word comes from the Aramaic. The "sambuca" tree is an "elder tree". The sambuca musical instrument is made of "elderwood".

Why does the most common musical scale, using only the white keys on the piano keyboard, start with C as in the key of C?
The major scale in the key of C uses only the white keys on the piano keyboard.

The Greek number system, based on letters, started at alpha as in "α" (modern lower case) or "Α" (ancient and modern upper case).

Ancient Greek music was based on minor keys, and in the (modern) key of C, starting at A (a minor third down) results in a minor scale using only the white keys on the piano keyboard.