Saturday 26 January 2019

Religious sources of classical music



 
 Paolo Veronese: 'The Annunciation'

We know from music history that Western classical music, i.e. art music, has its roots in medieval Christianity, from which it gradually evolved and emancipated, but keeping some ties intact like in church music, till deep into the 20th century. But do its secular forms, as mainly practiced in the concert hall, still have residus of a religious character? And if so, in which way? In this article, the spiritual element of the art form is further explored: