Description
Book Synopsis Rivers of Sacred Sound traces the flow of influences from East to West, from
BC to AD and from wordless jubilations to the setting of texts. It takes the
discussion about western chant beyond a European perspective.
The text of this book, preceded by an introduction, is presented in seven
chapters and covers a period of approximately five thousand years. There are
many references all over the world to praising the divine with sound. Thus
the starting point is the praise song, a fundamental impulse in mankind. The
Rg-Veda requests that our loudest-sounding hymn be accepted, as food most
delightful to the Gods. The Psalms request us to make a joyful noise unto God
and to sing forth the honour of His name. Spontaneous songs became ritual
events. In an aural culture what was the role of gesture and what is its role
now? There are many doors to open in pursuing these and other questions.
This book opens some of them.
Table of ContentsContents
List of Figures vii
List of Musical Examples ix
Preface xiii
Notation and Script xvii
Acknowledgements xix
Introduction 1
chapter 1
Historical Background 5
chapter 2
Language 17
chapter 3
Scale and Mode 49
chapter 4
Recitation, Psalmody and Silence 89
chapter 5
Alan4kaaras and Neumes 101
chapter 6
Rhythm in Chant 129
vi
chapter 7
The Hand: Mudraas and Cheironomy 137
Epilogue 153
Glossary 155
Bibliography 163
Index 169
