Looking at the book of Psalms with this is mind as a collection of varied musical material of varying styles, from various sources and for various applications, we find that there are four basic types of manuscripts included within the Psalm compilation:

• Ceremonial songs were primarily used by the Levite singers and musicians in their formal activities in relation to the Tabernacle and later Temple systems. (e.g. Psalm 117)
• Songs written, most likely written by some of the Levite singers and musicians in Babylon, during the time period of the Exile. (e.g. Psalm 137)
• Manuscripts that conveyed the stories and history of the Hebrew people in song format, the oral tradition. (e.g., Psalm 18)
• Songs were used by the general population as part of their personal religious practices. (e.g. Psalm 92

As with our modern songs, the Psalms have some very characteristic elements that not only assist in defining the divisions of the individual manuscripts within the collection but also distinguish them from strict literary, non-musical works. Three of these elements are the superscriptions, the phrase [hal'lu YAH], and most importantly for our discussions - the cantillation symbols.