Music and religion are tightly intermingled. Religious traditions from all over the earth make, use and consume music as part of their religious practice. At the same time, musicians have been inspired to write about religion for centuries, and it is no coincidence that many old and new popular songs deal with religion in one way or the other.
Where do religion and music intersect? Why and how do they intermingle by whom? We seek to find answers to these questions during the course of this seminar. By taking into consideration recent phenomena and some historical accounts, we will investigate cases of religious and musical meeting. From the perspective of the study of religious aesthetics, we will look at contemporary Christian worship music, Buddhist chanting, Islamic singing, Jewish songs, indigenous religious musicking, as well as popcultural use of religious themes in contemporary music. Additionally, theoretical approaches from sound studies, religious aesthetics and the senses, atmosphere and sociology will be taken as a basis for discussion.
Where do religion and music intersect? Why and how do they intermingle by whom? We seek to find answers to these questions during the course of this seminar. By taking into consideration recent phenomena and some historical accounts, we will investigate cases of religious and musical meeting. From the perspective of the study of religious aesthetics, we will look at contemporary Christian worship music, Buddhist chanting, Islamic singing, Jewish songs, indigenous religious musicking, as well as popcultural use of religious themes in contemporary music. Additionally, theoretical approaches from sound studies, religious aesthetics and the senses, atmosphere and sociology will be taken as a basis for discussion.
- Kursleiter/in: Dunja Sharbat Dar
Semester: ST 2024