Rivers of Sacred Sound

The text of this book, preceded by an introduction, is presented in seven chapters and covers a period of approximately five thousand years. In an aural culture what was the role of gesture and what is its role now? There are many doors to open in pursuing these and other questions. This book opens some of them.

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Rivers of Sacred Sound traces the flow of influences from East to West, from


BC to AD and from wordless jubilations to the setting of texts. It takes the


discussion about western chant beyond a European perspective.


The text of this book, preceded by an introduction, is presented in seven


chapters and covers a period of approximately five thousand years. There are


many references all over the world to praising the divine with sound. Thus


the starting point is the praise song, a fundamental impulse in mankind. The


Rg-Veda requests that our loudest-sounding hymn be accepted, as food most


delightful to the Gods. The Psalms request us to make a joyful noise unto God


and to sing forth the honour of His name. Spontaneous songs became ritual


events. In an aural culture what was the role of gesture and what is its role


now? There are many doors to open in pursuing these and other questions.


This book opens some of them.