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Spearheads a new field for the combined study of religion and music, drawing upon theories and methods of the social sciences, ethnomusicology, philosophy, theology, liturgical studies, and cognitive studies.
For generations, religion and music have been regarded as "universals," yet despite the fact that they have been frequently linked throughout history and topography, and despite the importance of music in the early stages of religious studies, their combined presence has not until now been considered a separate area of study and research. While there are well-developed fields of anthropology of religion, psychology of religion, and philosophy of religion, the widely recognized connections between religion and sound, chant, and music warrant comparable study. Drawing upon theories and methods in the study of both religion and music, referencing examples from world religious traditions, and addressing challenges posed by critics, this book envisions a unified field for religion and music: musicology of religion. Grounded in the scope and methods of phenomenology and comparative analysis, musicology of religion represents an innovative direction in interdisciplinary study, enriched by the social sciences, ethnomusicology, philosophy, theology, liturgical studies, and cognitive studies. As conceived, musicology of religion will spearhead new and creative paths in the study of religion.
"…Musicology of Religion … would be useful both for undergraduates seeking a foundational body of literature and for scholars in various disciplines wishing to find comparative literature in their fields. More practically, it would also be useful to any faculty developing curricula as they shape future course offerings. In general, I recommend Beck's book to anyone working at the intersections of music, theology, and religious practice." — Sarah Moerman, Yale Journal of Music & Religion
"Beck's advocacy of the importance of considering music and religion in relation to each other is welcome. He poses welcome questions for scholars of music and religion to consider and draws on a helpfully wide range of religious musical practices as examples." — Notes
"In his book Musicology of Religion, Guy L. Beck provides us with a groundbreaking study of the intimate relationship between religion and music. As religion and music have been regarded as 'universals' for generations, the author offers a new theoretical and methodological framework to advance the field of musicology of religion through a comparative study of music in religious cultures of the world. This work has indeed become a magnum opus of the author, reflecting his lifelong achievement in the academic study of sacred music. It is a must read for both undergraduate and graduate students, including research scholars working in the field of musicology of religion. I have been an avid reader of author's works for the last two decades. While reading this book I was struck by his wider canvas of focus on diverse range of theoretical disciplines, namely religious studies and music, social sciences and music, musicology and ethnomusicology, philosophy and music, theology and music, linguistic studies and music, and finally cognitive studies and music. After examining all these disciplines, he arrived at his unique contribution to a new discipline of 'musicology of religion'. Let us hope it becomes a recognized field in the academy. Once it does it will bring accolades to the author." — Pashaura Singh, Distinguished Professor at University of California, Riverside
"Guy Beck's Musicology of Religion is a full‐throated call for a new academic discipline constituted by comparative studies of music in religious cultures. Beck boldly and earnestly renews a century‐long debate over musical universals that is unquestionably important, and there is no question that he speaks for many in these fields who, as he says, know that religion and music are intimately related in human experience but have no dedicated theoretical and methodological discourse to examine that relationship. Musicology of Religion takes a decisive step forward in advancing that discourse and could well become a landmark in the study of sacred music." — Stephen A. Marini, author of Sacred Song in America: Religion, Music, and Public Culture
Preface
Introduction
Part I: Theories and Methods
1. Religious Studies and Music
2. Social Sciences and Music
3. Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Part II: New Directions and Paradigms
4. Philosophy and Music
5. Theology and Music
6. Liturgical Studies and Music
7. Cognitive Studies and Music
Part III: Homo Religiosus and Homo Musicus
8. Musicology of Religion
Appendix A Resources and Current Outlook
Appendix B Glossary of Terms for Musicology of Religion
Works Cited
Index