Psalms 4:1

To the conductor with melodies David established this psalm so that the Levites who conduct the melodies when singing on the platform should recite it. The expression of נצוח denotes those who apply themselves to the service, as the matter is stated (Ezra 3:8): “and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and upwards to conduct the work of the house of the Lord.”

For the leader; with instrumental music (לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת - la-menatzeach bi-nginot): The [Rav Saadia] Gaon said: That this psalm is David's, and he gave it to one of the singers (ha-meshorerim) to play/sing (le-nagen oto) it perpetually (tamid), similar to [the interpretation of la-menatzeach as meaning] "forever" (la-netzach). And others said: That the Menatzeach is the appointed official (ha-pakid) who is the supervisor (sar) over the musicians (ha-menagnim). Similar [is the usage in (II Chronicles 34:13)] "and overseers (u-menatzchim) over them." And this [interpretation] is the correct one (ve-zehu ha-nakhon). And the Lamed [prefix] of la-menatzeach is opened [vocalized with a patach - לַ] because he [this specific leader] was well-known/definite.

And the meaning of bi-nginot: [Some say] that it has two (shtei) melodies (ne'imot). And some say: A musical instrument (k'li shir) is called neginot [plural used for a type of instrument]. And according to my opinion: There were among Israel melodies (neginot) and songs (shirot) set to many different tunes/modes (ne'imot).

And the meaning of bi-nginot [as a directive] is that it was the beginning of the song. And behold, the specific melody/tune (ha-niggun) was written down together with this psalm. This is similar to [other superscription terms like] La-ma'alot ("For Ascents" - e.g., Psalm 120), Al Alamot ("According to Alamot" - Psalm 46), Al Ayelet Ha-Shachar ("According to The Hind of the Dawn" - Psalm 22), Al Yonat Elem [Rechokim] ("According to The Silent Dove [of Distant Lands]" - Psalm 56), and Al Machalat ("According to Machalat" - Psalm 53, Psalm 88). [These all likely indicate the tune, mode, or instrumentation.]

For the Chief Musician: on Neginoth. A Psalm of David: – Our teachers of blessed memory have said (Shoher Tod, ad loc.) that “this Psalm was uttered in three kinds of praise, in nissuah (נצוח), in niggun (ןגוי), and in mizmor (מזמור).” It is evident that the (person called the) מנצח (“Chief Musician”) is the one who was over the singers, and that the Psalms were rendered under the direction of the(se) “Chief Musicians,” who assigned them to (certain) players and singers. [This view is supported by the fact that] you nowhere find [as titles] “For the Singer” or “For the Player,” but only For the Chief Musician. And accordingly we have in the Prayer of Habakkuk (3:19) “For the Chief Musician on my stringed instruments”; and so the text (1 Chron. 23:4) “to superintend (לנצח) the work of the house of the Lord.” It is written also (ibid. 15:21) “with harps set to the Sheminith to lead (לנצח).” And it is the case that there was a “Chief Musician” over the instrument called Neginoth and another over that called Sheminith. And the songs and the melodies and the praises were rendered each according to the melody known in connexion with them; for it was a great science and would stimulate the rational soul, and was reckoned in the category of secular sciences. And the instruments which were (used) in the Temple for praise were lutes, lyres, cymbals, trumpets, and a horn. The instruments also were classified according to melodies known in connexion with them. Of the melodies there was that called Alamoth, as in the text (1 Chron. 15:20) and written (Ps. 46:1), “Set to Alamoth. A Song.” And there was that called Neginoth, and in this the present Psalm was rendered. And there was one of them called Maskil, and there was one of them called Mikhtam. There was also Shiggaion, and there was Nehiloth, and there was Shigionoth, and there was Gittith. One of the instruments was called “Tenstrings,” another “Pipes,” and another “Minnim.” And each of these is classified in its melody as it was known to the masters of the science. We find also a text which says (i Chron. 23:5), “And four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments I made to praise.” It is not known, however, whether the instruments were in the hands of those who were actually reciting the Psalm, or whether they acted together – those who sang with the mouth, and opposite them those who played upon (musical) instruments. We find also another text which says (2 Chron. 7:6), “And the Levites with the instruments of music of the Lord which David the king had made to give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy (endureth) for ever, when David praised by their ministry: and the priests sounded the trumpets before them.” And further it is written (ibid. 29:28), “and the singers sang and the trumpeters sounded.” Now the trumpets alone were in the hands of the priests, as it is written (Num. 10:8), “and the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets;” and the rest of the instruments were in the hands of the Levites; and so it is written (2 Chron. 29:26), “And the Levites stood with the instruments of David and the priests with the trumpets.”