Spirit Become Music
Culture is formed by cult. The liturgy is the first form of culture. What happens in the sanctuary shapes what happens outside.
Rivers flow from Eden's garden to the four corners. A spring starts from the throne of God and flows to the Dead Sea, refreshing as it goes (Ezekiel 47).
Is this anything more than metaphor? Is this just a trade in word-pictures?
It might seem so, but the history of Western music shows just how concretely historical these images are. Western music took its cues from the liturgical music of the church. Plainsong chant tunes still appear in contemporary music ( Dies Irae ). Polyphony was originally literally multi- voiced music.
The Spirit became music and dwelt among us.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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