דברי הימים א, פרק ט״ו, פסוק י״ז

To establish a strong musical leadership, the Levites appointed three central figures from among themselves to lead the singing [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These three men were carefully selected to represent the three main family branches of the Levite tribe. Specifically, Heman represented the family of Kohath, Asaph represented Gershon, and Ethan represented Merari [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].

As they led the vocal performances, these leaders accompanied their own singing by playing copper cymbals. The use of these specific instruments served a practical purpose, ensuring that the sound of the music would carry over great distances and be heard from afar [רלב״ג]. It is highly likely that these three prominent musicians are the very same individuals recognized as the authors of several compositions in the Book of Psalms [ביאור שטיינזלץ].