Do You Have 'Faith' in Music?
I have often felt a force surging through me sometimesÌýwhen I'm in ecstasy listening to music, or been taken by surprise by the physical power music has had over me with reactions like goose bumps and tears - but its only in the last five years I've ascribed something 'spiritual' to this.Ìý By 'Spiritual'ÌýI mean something I can't quite explain as opposed to a full-on religious belief in a particular God and his music.
When you look back at Religion through the ages it's impossible to find any examples where music doesn't play a part in worship (to me even IslamicÌýNasheed's are music) or belief.Ìý From hymns sung by Christians through the ages, to Sikh Ragi's singing the Guru Granth Sahib, and from Buddhist monks chanting in meditation as well as the worlds earlier tribal religions there has always been what I would call an arrangement and melody to worship.
Some people know all this (When it comes toÌýorganized religion)Ìýbut would never apply this knowledge to music within popular culture.Ìý I think that's wrong.
The hairs that stand up on the back of my neck when I hear the words of the Guru Granth Sahib are the same hairs that are moved by powerful gospel music, by the B-lines in Rasta Dub and Bhangra - the same hairs that are lightning rods for The Beatles at their best are also put to use listening to Qwaali, House music, Bhangra and Death Metal.Ìý
Its music that unlocks the part of our brain that feels belief & religion - and that's why itsÌýone of the most important humanÌýinventions ever.Ìý Yes we needed the wheel, fire, hunting and social organization way back as humans slowly evolved to where we are today - but music and its powerful 'otherness' within our society gives us the magic that separates us from the Ìýanimals.Ìý Music by its very nature and power exists within us - but also beyond us...if that makes sense!
Music, to put it simply, is my faith - and the only path to belief.Ìý I would even go as far to say without music there would be no faith, and humanity would still be living in the trees...(isn't there a song about that?)
Comment number 1.
At 19th May 2008, Hoodiez'n'Yoofs wrote:the best example of music and religion blending together is sufi music...it has deep roots in Pakistan, India almost in every genre of asian music...from bollywood, pakistani pop, rock, fusion, bhangra, desi folk. Islam and Sikhism in the subcontinent are heavily influenced by Sufi Music with both religions having some figures of faith in common.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 23rd May 2008, Roberto Carlos Alvarez-Galloso wrote:I agree with Hoodiez'nYoofs about Sufi Music being the best example of music and religion blended together. One of the greatest interpreters has been Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)