• Every culture in the world embraces some type of religious or
spiritual worship
• One common thread running through virtually all religions is
the use of music as an expression of spirituality
• The first groups of people to create sacred music were the
aboriginals.
• Aboriginals can be found on all of the continents except
Antarctica
• Aboriginals passed on their religious beliefs and traditions
from person to person orally and through artwork and music.
• Aboriginals use the natural landscape as the background for their
religious ceremonies.
• Native Peoples of Australia:
• Their belief system is rooted in the “Dreaming” Story
• They express this sensibility through stories, art, and song and Dance.
• Australian Aboriginal Music:
• Many traditional songs and dances of Australia aboriginals celebrate the
Dreaming
• These songs and dances usually center around the animals, birds, and fish
• The Brolga a native bird appears in many of the Dreaming songs
• Native Americans:
• Were the first settlers of North America that arrived during
the stone age
• Each Tribe has its own culture and religious beliefs.
• Each tribe also has its own unique musical traditions
• They memorize music and pass it on to the next generation
orally
• Common characteristics between tribes are music and dance
which are central to tribal rituals
• Rituals include religious ceremonies such as healing rites, and
dances to ensure a successful crop.
• Native American music:
• They memorize their music and pass it on orally to the next generation
• If the music is forgotten, mistreated, or performed incorrectly the tradition
is corrupted.
• Native American Songs:
• Is primarily sung even though instruments are used as accompaniment.
• Drums and rattles, the main types of instrument come in many different
shapes, and materials.
• Rattles are made out of gourds, turtle shells, carved wood, leather, and
other natural materials.
• No word exists for music in most Native American Languages.
• Most music is seen as gifts from the Creator and “Acquired”
through dreams or visions.
• They are governed by strict rules that determine when, under
what circumstances
• Songs have a high value within the society that they are
occasionally traded or sold as property
• Songs may also be given away as gifts of great significance
and meaning.
• Asian Religious Traditions:
• Hinduism: is one of the oldest religions still practiced in the world.
• They believe in multiple gods
• Most important god is Brahma, creator of all beings
• Music in Hinduism:
• Many Kritis were composed in southern India during the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries.
• The composers were deeply religious men.
• Kritis are usually sung by a solo artist in a concert setting
• A lot of Indian music uses the principle of theme and variations.
• In Kritis the variations are often both composed and improvised.
• Buddhism:
• Buddhist believes that in order to attain enlightenment the individual must
look inward, not to any gods.
• Music in Tibetan Buddhism
• Chants and instrumental music are a unique blend of musical styles
• They view music as a means of preparing the mind for spiritual
enlightenment.
• Choral chants and instrumental hymns are important parts of monastic
rituals.
• Only a few monasteries in Tibet teach monks how to sing in overtones.
• To learn this skill it takes much discipline and practice
• Tibet Buddhist believes music is connected directly with the deities who
guide them to higher states of consciousness.
• Middle eastern and European Religious Traditions:
• Three of the world’s most prominent religious traditions developed in The
middle east
• The three are: 1. Judaism, 2.Christianity, and then 3.Islam
• Judaism:
• Jewish law is the Torah which is the first five books of the Old Testament.
• On holy high days the Jewish go to the synagogue and listen as the
Shofar or ram’s horn is sounded.
• On Yom Kippur the Jewish followers chant the prayer “Kol Nidrie”
• The haunting tones beckon the faithful to atone for their sins.
• Christianity:
• Is the world’s largest religion
• The Church and Western Music:
• For almost 1500 years the Catholic Church in rome was the center of
Christianity.
• Early history of Western music and art is closely tied in with the church
• Mass:
• Is the principal form of the catholic religious service
• Composers have written music for the sung portions of the mass.
• Mass is divided into five sections: 1. Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctous , and
Agnus dei.
• One function of the religious music is to interpret the text of the mass and
express its ultimate meaning.
• Hymn:
• Martin Luther began the protestant movement
• He composed simple yet powerful hymns into the German Language
• One such hymn is “A mighty Fortress Is Our God”
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Chorale:
• Is a hymn tune that was used as the basis for various kinds of musical works
Felix Mendelssohn:
• In 1908 to a Jewish family in Hamburg Germany
• 9 years old when he made his public debut.
• At the age of 17 he composed his most famous work the overture to A midsummer night’s
dream
• He is credited with popularizing J.S. Bach’s works after almost a century of neglect.
J.S. Bach:
• Used chorales as basis for new works
• Improvised melodies on the organ and added harmonies and other embellishments
• When these improvised melodies were written down were called chorale Prelude
• Sometimes the Chorale served as the basis for other movements of the cantata
• The use of familiar hymn tunes made his works familiar and gave them popular appeal.
• Cantatas were the Protestant equivalent of the mass.
• The Origins of Gospel Music:
• After the Civil war in the United States, the “Spiritual”
Became the predominate style of African American Sacred
music.
• Developed during the time of enslavement
• It combines Christian hymn traditions with West Africa vocal
Traditions.
• Between 1871 and 1879 the Fisk University Jubilee singers
toured the country and Europe
• Spirituals were sung without instrumental accompaniment
• Singers were not permitted to improvise or interject their own
personal emotions.
• The word Gospel comes from the root word meaning “good
tale”
• This reflects the intent of the music- to tell the “good news” of
the New Testament.
• The Jubilee and white revival (White Gospel songs) also
influences the development of gospel music.
• Gospel Music Today
• This is an original American Creation that is recognized and
admired throughout the world.
• In these two nations there is a traditional musical
form known as Qawwali is featured in devotional
services.
• Qawwali comes in many styles and may be
considered traditional or popular, this is determined
on such characteristics as the instruments played, the
context, the text and the musical style
• The melodic instrument most used is the harmonium or
Pump
• The music is partly composed and partly improvised.
• Important stylistic quality of the qawwali is the use
of both solo singers and Chorus.
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