Alamoth

Alamoth is a musical term that appears in two places — once in the Chronicler's record of David's appointed Levitical musicians, and once in the superscription of a psalm by the sons of Korah.

In the Roll of David's Musicians

When David organizes the Levitical singers and instrumentalists for the bringing up of the ark, a group is assigned to play psalteries set to Alamoth: "and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth" (1Ch 15:20). The term is paired with a specific instrument and a specific group of named musicians.

The Superscription of Psalm 46

The same direction reappears as the heading of one of the Korahite psalms: "For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song" (Ps 46:1). Beneath this heading the psalm opens "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble" (Ps 46:1).