Music & Conscioussness

One evening, after leaving a U2 concert, I breathlessly said, "That was like going to church!" I was startled by my comment. I do not exactly consider myself a religious person. I certainly do not think Bono is God. What could I have meant by that statement? I believe now that I had meant to convey that I had experienced a shift of consciousness and music was the vehicle that enabled it. It appears the musical experience can intersect with religious experience, and that poses questions about the ways in which music helps people to construct their sense of self.

Music has long been used to convey ideas, thoughts and feelings. It is because of this that humans identify with these arrangements of sounds because it is sound itself that is one of the most basic tenets of consciousness. In the book, The Secret Power of Music, by David Tame, he argues, "music is more than a language, it is the language of languages. It can be said that of all the arts, there is none other that more powerfully moves and changes the consciousness." Many people are attracted to music because it has the ability to transcend the barriers of language and something within them responds. Julian Jaynes has argued that gods were a side effect of language evolution. What is interesting is that music and religion share a common origin, according to many ancient beliefs. One may consider the Bible passage in John:14 that states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God" as favorable argument for the importance of sound. Hindu religion believes that the primordial sound, "OM", created everything. The five notes of the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale were believed to be attuned to the cycles and rhythms of the heavens. Religious faiths attest to use of sound being a crucial aspect for the initiation of consciousness. The relationship between music and religion when considering the evolution of consciousness is intricate, and I argue both are intended to induce the same effect within the scope of consciousness.

Music has an integral part in religious ceremonies. A preacher will deliver his sermon only after the congregation has sung hymnals out loud. Native Americans use drums and dancing to create fervor of spiritual awareness. Followers of Indo-centric faiths will chant mantras out loud and repeatedly during meditation. What is the purpose behind this? It seems that leaders realize there is a "power" to be harnessed through the use of music. It can be argued, music definitely is not merely a frivolous pastime.

Music has a definite effect on people. Specifically, it