Is Music Part of my Spirituality?

After reading "Popular Music, Affective Space and Meaning" by Christopher Partridge,I began reflecting on the music I listen to. As someone that spends much of my spare time going to live concerts, I began to wonder- was I attending these for the music or the feeling live music gives me?

I once had a conversation with someone who did not see the point in paying for a concert when listening to a Cd was cheaper. I pointed out that listening to live music creates a whole different experience than that of a Cd. Live music not only indulges the hearing senses, it also invokes what I can only describe as a spiritual awareness throughout the entire body. At this point, it becomes more than just enjoying the music. It is about indulging in the joy that blossoms throughout the body, the love pumping like blood through the veins.The experience shared with other music goers gathers energy and swells within the crowd, an almost contagious feeling that I can't help but get seduced by.

Having somewhat of an eclectic taste in music genres, this feeling can take a slightly different focus. Rage Against The Machine can be an outlet for anger and fighting for beliefs, Massive Attack may calm me and distract from the outside world and Architecture In Helsinki just makes me joyous and want to bounce around on a wave of happiness. Nevertheless, intrinsically understanding that others are feeling the same strengthens this feeling in much the same way as the 'shared experience' (Meyer 2012) of religion does to worshippers. As Meyer eloquently states in regards to religion, this shared feeling can "not only generate but also heat up and intensify religious feelings"(Meyer 2012).

Is music part of my spirituality? Increasingly, I think so. Music is such a huge part of my life, something I don't want to live without and it can support me through any mood I might have. Music effects me in the same way joyous religion effects its believers.

References:
 Meyer, Birgit.  "Religious Sensations Media, aesthetics, and the study of contemporary religion."  In Religion, Media and Culture:  A Reader, edited by Jolyon Mitchell, Gordon Lynch and Anna Strhan, 159 - 170.  London and New York:  Routledge, 2012

Partridge, Christopher. "Popular Music, Affective Space and Meaning.". In Religion, Media and Culture: A Reader, edited by Jolyon Mitchell, Gordon Lynch and Anna Strhan, 183 - 194. London and New York: Routledge, 2012

Image References:
Philp, Bonita.  2011