Deep Listeners

I’ve just read the book Deep Listeners: Music, Emotion, and Trancing by Judith Becker. The book discusses the possible connection between religious experience in music and secular emotional experiences with music. Analyzing historical religious rituals involving music (Eastern and Western), and the trances involved in these rituals, comparing them to more common experiences of getting chills or crying when listening to certain music, the book looks at the physiological effect of music more than other books I’ve read on the subject.

What was most interesting to me, was the section where Becker examines the potential of multiple personalities that come into play through the experience of music, and the question, “Who are we when we listen to music…” seems to indicate a potential scientific understanding of the profound effect music can have on us psychologically. This is an important study for both religious and non-religious thinkers.

The connection between scientific studies and religious phenomena are often close, both aiming at the same mysteries of life, and it’s great to see an approach to the mind and beyond that doesn’t give either side too much credit. CD included as well, although there is a wealth of music beyond the disc that is a strong example of the ideas discussed. A great starting point for anyone who is interested in the topic, for sure.