This book contains the first study of the musical culture of ancient Israel/Palestine based primarily on the archaeological record.

Noted musicologist Joachim Braun explores the music of the Holy Land region of the Middle East, tracing its form and development from its beginnings in the Stone Age, through the Bronze and Iron ages, and into late Roman times—a span of time ranging from the twelfth millennium B.C. to the fourth century A.D.

This is not a study of "music in the Bible" or music in "biblical times" but a unique, in-depth investigation of the historical periods and cultures that influenced the music of the region and its people. Braun combines significant archaeological findings—musical instruments, terra cotta and metal figures, etched stone illustrations, mosaics—with evidence drawn from written (mainly biblical) texts and anthropological, sociological, and linguistic sources.

The portrait Braun assembles of this past musical world is both fascinating and innovative, suggesting a reconsideration of many views long accepted by tradition. Enhanced with approximately 200 illustrations, this exceptional work will be a valued resource for scholars, students, and general readers interested in the history of music, biblical studies, the ancient Near East, Jewish studies, and the Holy Land.

Rod Z
This is well researched and documented look into music from Ancient Israel/Palestine. Braun exhaustively looks at the all the evidence, both archaeological, Biblical, etc. to gain a sense of the music of the times, but cultic, private and public.

His sense of always trying to weave the very best conclusions from all the evidence is convincing, although for most of us readers who do not have all the experience of reading the vast literature on the subject, one is lost as to most reasonable views. Braun helps by providing his own interpretations of such, and for this reason this work is helpful.

He breaks his investigation into timeframes: Stone AGe, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Hellinistic-Roman. These are each accompanied by one of the books strongest features besides the documented bibliography is the wealth of fine photos and drawings to illustrate the evidence as the commentary alludes.

Midwest Book Review
Music In Ancient Israel/Palestine: Archaeological, Written, And Comparative Sources by Israeli musicologist Joachim Braun is the first truly comprehensive study of the musical culture in Israel/Palestine in antiquity, as interpreted from the available archaeological record. An engrossing, informative, academically endowed exploration of the crafting of musical instruments and the evolution of musical expression as understood through evidence, as well as scholarly hypothesis stretching from the stone age to the Hellenistic-Roman period, Music In Ancient Israel/Palestine is a singularly amazing and very strongly recommended analysis which is a welcome an valued contribution to both Music History and Mideast Archaeology reference shelves and supplemental reading lists.