Emotion and Meaning in the Musical Experience-part 5

 Emotion and Meaning in the Musical Experience-part 5  

            Emotions related to musicing and music listening are by far not the only important part of the music experience.  They are important because they must be congruent with what the Bible teaches about music and musicing.  The emotions that are aroused must also be congruent with the Changed life of a Christian.  Since all music and musicing must come under the Lordship of Christ, all emotions that surround the musical experience must follow the commands and admonitions of Scripture such as 1Corinthians 9:27 teaches,  “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”  2Corinthians 7:1 also teaches, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

            The way that Christian performers dress and the bodily movements they make while musicing coupled with the effect that the formal properties of the music have on the audience will strongly affect the emotions of all who share in the musical experience.  Sight and sound are bold intruders into the human psychic.  Anyone who denies this truism is either naive or less than honest.  We should all be reminded that music is first received physically i.e. we hear and feal it.  Second, as the electrical system of our body picks up sounds and vibrations, these electrical impulses pass the neurological synapses in the brain and cognitions take place.  As one ponders (muses) on these thoughts, he or she reacts emotionally and mentally to what has taken place in the music experience.  As performers and listeners think on these emotional states triggered by the music that they have encountered, they are either helped or hindered in their spiritual journey and relationship to Christ.