Music

The Buddhist Tradition

Chant is the principal sacred music of Buddhism. Buddhist chants vary according to region and beliefs. The chants, learned largely by rote, are complex and may include recitations of sacred texts, usually in Tibetan or Sanskrit. Yang chanting is performed with-out metrical timing, and is accompanied by resonant drums and low, sustained vocal pitches. Throat singing (or overtone singing), typical of Buddhist chant, is a type of singing that manipulates the harmonic resonances of air in the throat. One regional example is Shomyo, a style of Japanese Buddhist chant found mainly in the Tendai and Shingon sects that has two styles, called ryokyoku and rikkyoku. According to Tibetan Buddhist theory, the orchestration, rhythm, tempo, and repertory of ritual music must be suited to the deity to which it is offered. Performance of Buddhist music is almost exclusively done by monks and occurs regularly throughout the day at monastic hours.

The Christian Tradition

The earliest form of sacred music for the Christian Church is Gregorian chant (or plainsong), for which large numbers of melodies were composed and then codified toward the end of the 1st millennium. Over many centuries, a tradition arose in which music was offered to God on behalf of the congregation by a choir. This has produced complex and innovative music in a wide variety of styles and genres. Examples of Christian liturgical and nonliturgical music can be found in every period of music history from the medieval era to the present. The most common forms of Christian music are the anthem, antiphon, cantata, canticle, carol, chorale, hymn, motet, and requiem. Not all Christian music is intended for liturgical performance; an example is the oratorio (e.g., Handel's Messiah). The hymn has a long tradition of being the primary form of congregational music. Hymns and carols are usually divided into verses (strophic) that are sung to a tune that is repeated.

Within the Christian Church, there are large variations in the type and use of music. In the Catholic tradition and following the Reformation, much of the music is sung by the congregation and, since the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the traditional use of Latin has been replaced by texts in the vernacular. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, most singing is done by priests and is unaccompanied or accompanied by bells. In the Protestant tradition, certain distinct musical styles have evolved, notably the spiritual (a type of folksong that originated in the African-American community in the mid-18th century) and gospel music (American religious songs that developed from black evangelical groups). Contemporary Christian music, or CCM, is influenced by secular popular music of the late 20th century. CCM has become enormously popular, and is the principal music played on Christian radio.

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