Comments | aliothsan: In which aliothsan had watchen astaunished

aliothsan

In which aliothsan had watchen astaunished

Aug 20, 2007 23:46

A small group of us (people in the arts preorientation program) were heading back from central campus toward the dorms. We passed through Lobby 7, which is basically the main entrance of MIT. Big open space all marble and under a huge dome. So yay lots of echoes and lovely acoustics ( Read more... )

music, random, uplifted, thoughts, singing, squee

Comments 8

fafner88 August 21 2007, 06:50:21 UTC

When you have religion, you have penetration into the innermost reaches of the human psyche, and with that, such ephoria can lead to great influence in music. Add to this the fact that the church was for a long time (in some places) the only places where people were either allowed to or able to meet as a community in order for music to be composed or performed.

What kind of Christian music did you sing? Gospel? Plainsong?

aliothsan August 22 2007, 03:25:26 UTC

I think it was something modern. The melody was definitely modern, but the people singing solo parts were really quiet, so you could listen to mostly the background aaahhhs and doo doo doos and pretend it was early plainsong. Hooray plainsong.

lightflake August 22 2007, 21:23:46 UTC

Shame nobody else stopped...

(The comment has been removed)

saizai August 24 2007, 03:39:19 UTC

I think it's because religion is commonly the only sphere in which 'sacredness' as an emotion is both acceptable and expected.

Whereas this is fairly rare in secular music. Sadly, IMHO.

aliothsan August 24 2007, 06:41:15 UTC

So... what is 'sacredness' as an emotion?

To me, the kinesthesia is like rising or being lifted, with the heart as the origin of motion. (Probably partly because I usually breathe in deeply when I sense sacred things.) A great weight is lifted, and if it's powerful enough, I really feel like I could float and/or fly. But that's just the kinesthesia; I'm somewhat at a loss as to how to verbalize the actual emotion. Not sure if conventional short names like 'joy' are strictly applicable...

saizai August 29 2007, 08:42:47 UTC

I don't think I can particularly do it justice either. It's one of those where you just have to point to the elephant.

vvvexation August 23 2007, 21:33:04 UTC

I figure religion, like love, provides a handy excuse to write beautiful music without feeling that people will think your choice of topic is silly.

saizai August 29 2007, 09:09:49 UTC

Also: I'm glad you've either taken my advice to heart, or found the path yourself.

Don't forget about it.