Transcript Sound, Music and Religion - University of Mount Union

Sound, Music and
Religion
The Power of Sound
Everywhere One Goes
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Sounds are
everywhere:
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Church
Temple
Synagogue
Mosque
Other Sacred
Gatherings.
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Sounds are in
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Music
Prayer
Liturgy
Spoken word (read and
otherwise)
Shouts.
Audio Symbols
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There are three categories:
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non-verbal
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nonconceptual verbal
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music, sound
words used in chants and spells (used in the word
itself as opposed to the concept the word conveys).
conceptual verbal
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story, myth, rhetoric and doctrine (the written word
is an extension of the spoken word. It is an
extension of the sound).
A word about Speech
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The speech act is
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Fragile
Impermanent
Intimate
It is also
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“unique, engaging a speaker and a listener in a
specific existential situation. All that transpires
is the formation of words, symbols of sound,
stemming from thoughts.”
The words fill the space with the power of the
sounds. Native Religions by Sam Gill
A Closer Examination
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Nonverbal
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Nonceptual verbal
The Power of Sound
An Old Influence
a long time ago . . . . .
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The power of
music/sound has been
recognized by many
including Plato who
devotes some space
to it in his classic work
“The Republic.”
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He rationalized that rhythm and harmony
affect the inner most part of a person and
that the desired effect for rhythm and
harmony is to produce grace inwardly. He
said of music and poetry . . .
Platonic words
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“. . . rhythm and harmony
permeate the inner part of
the soul more than
anything else, affecting it
most strongly and bringing
it grace, so that if
someone is properly
educated in music and
poetry, it makes him
graceful, but if not, the
opposite.” Republic 401de.
What Music Does
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It sets the mood
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Music helps the
participant to experience
a mood or sensation
which enhances the
worship experience or
spirituality.
 Native Spirit – Pueblo
Sunrise
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When used with lyrics it
describes a story or
articulates an idea
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Music often tells a story
or an idea. It can be a
testimony or it can be a
tribute to a god, person
or spirit.
 Mahalia GSH1 Didn’t
It Rain
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It encourages or
sends a message.
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Sometimes music
encourages a person to
move on or hold on
when life gets weary or
sometimes it gives a
positive message.
 Donnie McClurkin Stand
Music is inseparable from religion
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Robert Ellwood in “Introducing Religion:
From Inside and Outside” has divided
music into five categories with regard to
its function in religion.
The Five Categories
Tribal
 Chants/Mantras (nonconceptual verbal)
 Liturgical
 Hymns/Devotional
 Performance
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Tribal
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Tribal music is associated
with dance, ritual or
ceremony of some kind.
Usually heavy with rhythm
and percussion. It may
include shaman songs
(religious leaders), chants
or melodies song by
shamans. It is noted as
being communal and very
often associated with some
sort of ritual or ceremony
and performed by particular
people (shamans, seer,
etc.,)
For example (no 7 of yellow
disk)
Chants and Mantras
Chants or the rhythmic, repetitious,
monotone or quasi-monotone singing of
religious words or texts predate written text.
 The style helps in memorization, ease in
listening and creates a particular kind of
atmosphere. As parts of magic formulas
"the the very sound--vibrations--of the
words themselves was part of the power."
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Effect of Chants and Mantras
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In later times only
religious professionals
and academics were
concerned about them.
Although many songs
have lost some their
literal meaning through
their performances by
certain orders and
groups they create a
sense of communion
and fellowship and
invoke a "religious
aura" and channel
certain kinds of feeling.
Some examples are
Gregorian chants and
Hindu chants. (see Rel.
Disk 2 for Gregorian)
Liturgical
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The word means public duty
or responsibility. It is a
form of public worship.
Liturgical pieces are what
most people are familiar
with. This music is called
liturgical because of its
intended use in a religious
service as the formal liturgy.
Usually it is a regular part of
the service although it is
often song by choirs and
musically it is more
elaborate than chants.
An Jewish example (See Rel.
Disk 2 Adonai – Shema)
Hymns
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Hymn pieces although are also sung during
services have devotion as a main focus of their
intent. They expresses tender, deep, feelings in
their words and melodies. (e.g. Jesus the Very
Thought of Thee) They may also have a
"military" feel to them like "Onward Christian
Soldiers").
A Christian example (M. Jackson, no. 2 of GSH1 – My God
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Another example
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Is Real)
(Little Richard, no. 10 of rel. songs var. –
Precious Lord) There is a story behind this song.
Performance
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Performance music like oratorios (Handel's
“Messiah”), spiritual songs, organ voluntaries
(classical, baroque, etc.) and much contemporary
Christian music. “These songs are based on
religious themes and create a religious mood,
though they may not be strictly parts of worship
and its orchestration of symbols, and may well be
performed separately from formal worship, at
concerts and festivals.”
Two Christian examples Handel’s Hallelujah
Chorus (St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Soulful
Messiah)
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Sometimes one puts together music and
dramatic presentations.
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Video Clip from Hampton VA
The Challenge
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However, problematic
for some religious
practioners, especially
some Christians, is
that sometimes the
distinction between
secular and sacred is
blurred.
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There are songs which
“sound” secular. For
example
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Minnie the Moocher
 Cab Calloway (no. 4
var. rel. 1)
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It’s Alright
 Joe May and Winnona
Carr (no. 8 var. rel.
1)
Contemporary Times
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Another example
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One Nation Under a
Groove
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Funkadelic (no. 6, rel.
vol. 1)
Stomp
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Kirk Franklin (no. 5,
rel. vol. 1)
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Dance Tunes
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Edwin Hawkins
rendition of “Oh Happy
Day” (no. 2, rel. song.
var.) garnered criticism
from many who wanted
there to be a greater
distinction between
secular and sacred.
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Mary Mary
demonstrate this
dilemma in their song
– Shackles
Some secular songs
have religious
“appeal.” Carol King’s
(no. 13, rel. songs
var.) “You’ve Got A
Friend” is an example.
http://www.lbc.net/media/show_images/0805_carol.jpg
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In Precious Lord, a
particularly religious song
and You’ve Got a Friend a
secular with some spiritual
overtones (no. 1, var. rel.
songs 1) is an example of
a mix of the profane and
holy.
http://afgen.com/clevelan.gif
Many artists like Aretha Franklin
took the “gospel” sound to the
secular studio. Sometimes there
is a blending. For example, she
and noted Gospel musician,
James Cleveland collaborated on
song which included the words
from “Precious Lord” and “You’ve
Got a Friend.”
http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_music/aretha_franklin.JPG
Sources
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Slides
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6 http://24.24.31.212/literature/Plato-head-LDS.jpg
8 http://hem.passagen.se/thebee/SCIENCE/Science.htm
9 http://taoswebb.com/decolores/images/es_dia_bonita_lg.jpg;
http://papercutsbychana.com/info.asp?info=NoahsArk
10 http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/wea00958.htm
13
http://www.dikenga.com/films/firecracker/newsletter/session7/gods.ht
ml
15 http://www.melrose.bordernet.co.uk/festival2002/images/1418.html; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1690740.stm
16
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/worship/jew_worship
syn.shtml