Music and Spirituality (MUSI30247)

The connection between music and spirituality can be explored from a number of perspectives within the broad field of music studies. This subject will engage students in learning how to critique ideas that both contrast and complement their own beliefs about the music and spirituality. The lecture series will begin by defining key aspects of spirituality relevant to music studies, and developing understandings about the concept of critiquing scholarly writings. A range of lecturers from music composition, music therapy, ethnomusicology and musicology will then present knowledge from their own disciplinary perspective, focusing on topics such as spirituality in indigenous Australian music, music and spirituality at the end of life, music in the history of the Western church, and representations of the spiritual in contemporary compositions. Together, the lecture series will offer a diverse array of contributions on the topic of music and spirituality in order to explore the connection from multiple perspectives and expand student’s existing knowledge about the topic.