New Series “Music and Religion”
Cluster of Excellence presents the next lecture series’ concerts and lectures
In the summer semester 2017, the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” presents the public lecture series “Music and Religion” with lectures and concerts. The new series ranges from music in Judaism, Islam and Hinduism to Christian church music, the piano song of the 19th century and contemporary pop music. The scientific discussion is accompanied by experiences of the aesthetic: at a recital of the renowned baritone Benjamin Appl, at an orthodox vesper with the Byzantine cantors’ choir from Munich, and at a concert of the ensemble Ayangil from Istanbul playing music of Islamic tradition.
The lectures investigate the complex relationship of music and religion from antiquity until the present day, in Europe and North America, in India and in the Middle East. They will be held from 25 April to 18 July at 6.15 p.m. in lecture theatre F2 of Fürstenberghaus, Domplatz 20-22, Münster. The location of the performances will be the neighbouring Petrikirche. Admission is free.
“Music is a central part of the rituals of numerous religions in the world”, says musicologist Dr. Dominik Hoink, speaking for the organisers of the interdisciplinary series. “Religious traditions are just as multifaceted as their tonal elements: from improvised, monophonic chants and the use of ritual instruments to highly artificial, polyphonic Mass compositions.” Created to praise the Lord, religious music has on the one hand been the dominating form of artistic activity for many centuries. On the other hand, priests and religious scholars were sometimes sceptical or even disapproved of music, fearing their strong emotional effect. “But it was just this effect that made it the key medium of creating, strengthening and articulating religious sentiments.”
Gods and angels make music
Occasionally, the researcher explains, even the gods themselves or angels made music in visual representations and in religious texts, thus emphasising the particular importance of this art form. However, music was also a powerful means of spreading positions that were critical of religion or even anti-religious. “After all, music at times turns into religion itself, the enjoyment of art turns into prayer, and an actually secular venue turns into a temple.” Representatives of musicology, religious studies, Islamic studies, theology and sociology will speak in the lecture series.
The series is organised by musicologist Dr. Dominik Höink, by Islamic studies scholars Prof. Dr. Thomas Bauer and Dr. Monika Springberg-Hinsen, by Catholic theologian Prof. Dr. Clemens Leonhard and by Viola van Melis, who is Head of the Centre for Research Communication at the Cluster of Excellence. The first lecture, entitled “‘Begreifen, was uns ergreift’. Das musikalische und das religiöse Leben im Vergleich” ('Understanding that which moves us'. Comparing the musical and the religious experience) will be held by sociologist of religion Prof. Dr. Detlef Pollack on 25 April. (vvm/ill)