Music: Sacred versus Secular

Steve Raybine:

Blog #45:

Christmas Special 2009:

Music: Sacred versus Secular

The holiday season is the time for celebrating with our family and friends. For many people within the Judeo-Christian world, it is the time to celebrate the sacred in their lives. Alternatively, other people primarily enjoy the secular aspects of the season--the winter solstice and the world transformed into a veritable winter wonderland. Therefore, I thought this might be a good time to examine the sacred and secular aspects within music, especially when many people are predisposed to examining their innermost thoughts and feelings about the spiritual and secular aspects of their life.

Numerous musicians, past and present, have expressed experiencing a spiritual epiphany about music within their lives. Some of them, are my favorite musicians such as: John Coltrane; Duke Ellington; Dave Brubeck; and many others. As we know, Johann Sebastian Bach was a devoted church musician and many other prominent and less-prominent musicians throughout the history of music have also devoted a significant portion of their musical lives to being church musicians. Although I can't necessarily quantify the magnitude of their spiritual devotion as expressed through music, I can reasonably assume that they inspired many parishioners on a religious and/or spiritual level with their musical talent. It is relatively common occurrence for many musicians to proclaim their love for God with their music. Again, I can only assume that via music, they experience moments of inner enlightenment.

As a composer, I can honestly tell you that I have indeed experienced some greater force within myself as the result of my composing. These moments were very special and meaningful to me and indicated the transcendent quality of music--the sacred, as it were. Moreover, I have also experienced similar moments as a performer, which reinforced the transforming quality regarding the power of music. I believe that music has the capacity to illuminate people and bring them closer to what may be considered the spiritual or sacred part of themselves.

In contrast to the special spiritually-oriented moments I've experienced as a musician, a great deal of making music would be categorized as business-as-usual--executing my craft to the best of my ability, which I'll refer to as the secular aspect of being a musician. I practice, perform, compose and teach music on a daily basis because that is what I do, as do millions of other musicians. Although there may be brief moments of the transcendent power of music that occurs, which I've come to recognize and appreciate, I'm doing my work, which I've been trained to do. So, the secular or more job-oriented aspect of music finds its place in my life and the lives of many working musicians.

May you all seek out and find the sacred musical component in your secular lives this holiday season. May the glorious sound and power of music illuminate each and every one of you. Peace.

Copyright 2009 Steve Raybine

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