Description
Book SynopsisThe relationship between Christian theology and music has been complex since the early days
of the Church. In the twentieth century the secularization of Western culture has led to further
complexity. The search for the soul, following Nietzsche’s declaration of the Death of God has
led to an increasing body of literature in many fields on spirituality. This book is an attempt
to open up a conversation between these related discourses, with contributions reflecting a
range of perspectives within them. It is not the final word on the relationship but expresses a
conviction about their relationship. Collecting together such a variety of approaches allows new
understandings to emerge from their juxtaposition and collation. This book will contribute to
the ongoing debate between theology, spirituality, culture and the arts. It includes contexts with
structured relationships between music and the Church alongside situations where spirituality
and music are explored with sometimes distant echoes of Divinity and ancient theologies
reinterpreted for the contemporary world.
Table of Contents Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction 1
Prelude
Terry Biddington
1 Music, spirituality and prayer: A chaplain reflects on the possibilities for being 17
Musicking
Brian Inglis
2 Musical composition and mystical spirituality 25
June Boyce-Tillman
3 The Western audience as congregation 45
Nancy L. Graham
4 Spirituality by Heart 67
Wilfrid Jones
5 A new liturgical movement forward: Testing the reform of the reform through music 83
Interlude One
Sister Aileen CSC
6 Spirituality and music in the religious life: A Religious reflects 117
Musical Listening in a Troubled World
Gregory Clifton Smith
7 ‘Listen … with the ear of your heart’: Music and pastoral care 127
Susan Quindag
8 It is well with my soul: How spiritual music is relationship despite racism 145
Alexander Westmacott
9 Songs of soil, tracts of land: An agritheological analysis of the harvest section of Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861 163
Helena Mary Kettleborough
10 Music and spirituality within planet and cosmos: Exploring the contribution of music to sharing the ideas of Thomas Berry 181
Interlude Two
Stephen B. Roberts
11 Learning theology through music: A homiletic reflection 211
Fabian Lochner
19 What angels? Gregorian chant and spiritual meaning in a secular world: Reflections on an artistic collaboration between Gregorian chant ensemble Schola Nova Silvana and British poet Hilary Stobbs 349
Postlude
June Boyce-Tillman
20 Sermon on music: A priest preaches 389
Notes on contributors 401
Index 409
