Music for Body, Mind and Spirit

We attended the Cantabile Choir concert in Kingston back in May, in part because Ruth's sister, Shirley, is a member and also because the music is always wonderful. In one piece the women sang and then the men (or was it the other way around?) The song was lively and the men were into it, and I noticed that the women immediately alongside these singers were swaying with the energy of it in a way that women at the other end of the stage weren't, a sort of sonic ripple effect. It was fascinating to see. 



Boys Cathedral Choir, up to no good

I just saw an article out of Oxford University about the growing number of people in Britain who are involved in choirs, about 2.8 million. People don't go to church in England much but they have found other choirs to join. The article made these observations which many of us already appreciate: 

We’ve just published some research that reveals that group singing not only helps forge social bonds, it also does so particularly quickly, acting as an excellent icebreaker. We’ve also shown that community singing is effective for bonding large groups, making it an ideal behaviour to improve our broader social networks. This is particularly valuable in today’s often alienating world, where many of our social interactions are conducted remotely via Facebook and Twitter...

The physiological benefits of singing, and music more generally, have long been explored. Music making exercises the brain as well as the body, but singing is particularly beneficial for improving breathing, posture and muscle tension. Listening to and participating in music has been shown to be effective in pain relief too, probably due to the release of neurochemicals such as β-endorphin(a natural painkiller responsible for the “high” experienced after intense exercise).

There’s also some evidence to suggest that music can play a role in sustaining a healthy immune system, by reducing the stress hormone cortisol and boosting the Immunoglobin A antibody.

Music has been used in different cultures throughout history in many healing rituals, and is already used as a therapy in our own culture (for the relief of mental illness, breathing conditions and language impairment, for example). Everyone can sing – however much we might protest – meaning it is one of the most accessible forms of music making, too. Song is a powerful therapy indeed.

Wow. Why wouldn't people want to sing! Although, do you notice that there is no direct mention of religion or spirituality or the long tradition of exceptional choirs in British religious life? That would be a...sin? There is passing mention --barely-- later in the article. 

Now that I'm retired from ministry I'm a civilian in our son's congregation in Trenton. One of the many good things about participating in worship is the opportunity to "praise God from whom all blessings flow." I'm just not musical in the way many members of our family are and I have no desire to sing in a choir. Still, I do enjoy singing traditional hymns and contemporary music of the faith. I hope I always will, for the sake of body, mind, and spirit. 

Tell me what you think gang!

http://www.ox.ac.uk/research/choir-singing-improves-health-happiness-%E2%80%93-and-perfect-icebreaker#

Gospel Choir at Harry and Meghan's wedding