Continuing on from yesterday's post, I found a few more uses of music in Biblical times. Music was used in sacred processions. In 1 Chronicles 13:6-8 the chronicler records this:

Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim to bring back the Ark of God which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim. They  transported the Ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing and playing all kinds of musical instruments-lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

They decided to bring the Ark back after it's neglect during Saul's reign. However, they didn't transport it correctly, and Uzzah wound up dead because they didn't bother to find out from the Lord and the Scriptures they had available how to transport it, which makes me suspect that despite all the festive music making, their hearts weren't completely right before God. So we see music of its own accord is not enough if a person's heart is not right, even if the music is directed towards God.
Another use of music is in victory celebrations. In Exodus 15, after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his men had drowned chasing them, there was some music to commemorate it. "Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance. And Miriam sang this song: 'I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; He has thrown both horse and rider into the sea'." (Exodus 15:20-21) I never noticed before that it was the women who were leading the dancing and rhythm. It doesn't say anything about the men here--weren't they just as elated? Miriam also gave credit for the victory where it was due: to God Himself.  So we see that women played a role in the celebrations as well. I really hate that the Bible has been used over the centuries to justify treating women like second class citizens--It is really an insult to God to imply that anything He created is inferior to anything (besides Him, of course). The way women have been treated over the years is not Biblical. Anyway.
The last use of music that I will discuss tonight is in the coronation services. In 2 Chronicles 23:11,13 the coronation of Joash is recorded:

Then Jehoida and his sons brought out Joash, the king's son, and placed the crown on his head. They presented Joash with a copy of God's laws and proclaimed him king. Then they anointed him, and everyone shouted, "Long live the king!"...And she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the Temple entrance. The officers and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Singers with musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration.

It makes sense that a king would be crowned with great fanfare. After all, kings were thought to be divinely appointed, and in Joash's case, I believe he was. I always loved Handel's Messiah because the Hallelujah Chorus sounds so regal, so kingly. It is what I imagine a king would be crowned with, and what Jesus would be crowned with when He returns.