תהלים, פרק פ״א, פסוק א׳

Music played a central role in the spiritual life of the Temple, with specific songs chosen for particular occasions. This specific psalm was designated to be sung on the Jewish New Year. The connection to this holy day stems from the themes woven throughout the song, specifically the sounding of the ram's horn and the Exodus from Egypt. According to tradition, the backbreaking labor of the Israelites in Egypt officially ended on the New Year [רד״ק, מאירי]. The memory of the Exodus is highly fitting for this occasion, as all the festivals center around this foundational event [מאירי].

Beyond the holiday themes, there is an additional historical context to the song. It was originally composed during a period of severe drought. The people gathered on the New Year to pray for rain, and God answered their prayers [מלבי״ם].

The musical directions at the beginning of the song mention a specific term, which commentators agree refers to a musical instrument. The primary approach among commentators is that this instrument gets its name from the city of Gath, the place from which it was originally brought [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].