Music as prayer?

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HillbillyHermit

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I’d really like to hear from musicians on this one. I’ve been a bass player for over 20 years, and about a year and a half ago started playing the Irish whistle. I’ve also made a few. Once in a while I’ll play music on the whistle as part of my prayer. The Glory Be after a Psalm, for example. I really enjoy having music as part of my spirituality and prayer life now, especially when using an instrument I’ve made. It’s a great way to thank God for this gift. It’s been an important part of my life.

Does anyone else play an instrument and use that as part of their prayers? I’ve seen a few, mainly Franciscans, that either sing or use an instrument in their prayer life (one plays the bagpipes!). And, are there any Saints that have written about this topic? I haven’t had any results in my search.
 
HillbillyHermit said:
I’d really like to hear from musicians on this one. I’ve been a bass player for over 20 years, and about a year and a half ago started playing the Irish whistle. I’ve also made a few. Once in a while I’ll play music on the whistle as part of my prayer. The Glory Be after a Psalm, for example. I really enjoy having music as part of my spirituality and prayer life now, especially when using an instrument I’ve made. It’s a great way to thank God for this gift. It’s been an important part of my life.

Does anyone else play an instrument and use that as part of their prayers? I’ve seen a few, mainly Franciscans, that either sing or use an instrument in their prayer life (one plays the bagpipes!). And, are there any Saints that have written about this topic? I haven’t had any results in my search.
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I often pray while playing the piano. I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t sing or make up words. I just play. And when I play, I pray.
 
I do this with the guitar. I play and pray. I also sing on the way to work and sometimes on the way home. It’s really…nice, and meditative.
I’m not sure of saints who have written about instruments, but I know St. Augustine encouraged singing. 🙂 I think the two (singing, playing music) are very related. Singing is just playing music with your voice!
For he who sings praise, does not only praise, but also praises joyfully; he who sings praise, not only sings, but also loves Him whom he is singing about/to/for. There is a praise-filled public proclamation (praedicatio) in the praise of someone who is confessing/acknowledging (God), in the song of the lover (there is) love.
St. Augustine
(source wdtprs.com/blog/2006/02/st-augustine-he-who-sings-prays-twice/)
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I sing in the church choir and that is my way of participating in the service (though alternate weeks I serve.)

look at Psam 150 if you need reassurance about music and prayer.😃
 
I like this quote from the Catechism:
2590 “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (St. John Damascene)

That really opens us up to a wide variety of ways! I think using the voice or other instrument is a great personal way to “raise one’s mind and heart to God”, and to the Virgin Mary.

Glad to see others incorporating music into their prayer life! 👍
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englishredrose:
look at Psam 150 if you need reassurance about music and prayer.😃
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1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his exceeding greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Psalms (RSV) 150)

Can’t get better than that!:harp:
 
I’m a musician. More specifically, my voice is my instrument. Any time I sing, whether I’m singing vocalises (songs without words) or the normal singing with words, I’m praying. There is something about singing or playing an instrument which will put me into another spiritual level. When I’m not concentrating on reading the music (like if I have to sightread at the last minute), I go through something like a spiritual ecstasy. It is something I rarely experience in any other aspect of my life.
 
I think our Father gives us who are musicians, or those into other forms of art, little glimpses of how He is the Master Artist.

[BIBLEDRB]Genesis 1:31[/BIBLEDRB]
 
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