Music and Religion

1.Use. How is music actually used in religion in your experience? And what is the purpose of that use? What sort of performing styles are expected, and are there any rules that should be followed? And stuff like that—the practical and practicing side of music and religion.

I grew up Catholic and considered myself to be so up until I was about sixteen years old. Traditionally, in the Catholic church, music was very simple. We sang as a congregation to give "praise and glory" to God. Sometimes singing replaced speaking a prayer (The Lord's Prayer). There are specific parts of the musical service that are understood to be only sung by a soloist, other parts only sung by the Priest, and others as a congregation. Responsorial psalms were sung in call and response between the soloist and the congregation. My only experience of instrumentation used was mostly organ with an occasional flute added and very rarely a guitar. Only specific hymns could be sung at certain times of the year in accordance with the church calendar. The presentation of the music is always a soloist or choir standing in front leading the congregation. There is never any movement.
When I turned sixteen, I began to explore different denominations within the Christian religion. For me, it was music-culture shock at first. I would never have imagined a rock and roll band on a stage with an over-head projector displaying words, and members of the congregation dancing and raising their hands. =) Now that is very familiar and comfortable to me. All denominations of Christianity still have the same purpose for music: praising God. Within Protestant sects the use of varied genres is incorporated. You get to sing more than just hymns. Christian radio music is more common in contemporary services. There aren't as many rules followed when it comes to music.



2. Aesthetics. In your experience, do the prevailing religions of your surroundings influence what is found aesthetically pleasing in music? Is there any way in which the values of those religions inherent in the way music is built or experienced?

I definitely believe that I am more inclined to appreciate tonal, chordal, and simplistic harmonies in music more because of my Catholic background. That is a comfort for me. I also prefer the contemporary songs that are slower and more lyric. As far as the influence that values have on music, the Catholic church has a structural (for lack of a better word) approach to most aspects of religion. There are more rules present that are followed than my nondenominational church that I attend now. So in that sense, I do believe that the music reflects the religion. There is a great reverence for God which is reflected well in the singing of hymns. Singing praise and worship songs in a nondenominational church present just that, praise and worship. There is more freedom of the body, voice and expression. I have a great love for both of these influences in my life.