Sing pray heal: Exploring the Health Benefits of Modern Kirtan as Sacred Community Music Therapy

This research project is an exploration of the salient health benefits of participating in chant-based music experiences, ultimately to determine whether or not such music making can have perceived therapeutic impact. Merging the fields of music therapy and medical ethnomusicology, I will examine kirtan chanting as ‘sacred community music therapy’ and utilize a five-dimensions model of health, grouping perceived benefit into physical, emotional, mental, social and/or spiritual domains.

Kirtan is a call-and-response style of prayerful singing that originated in East India and now presents in modern forms led by non-Indians, yogis and musicians. Shanti Mission, a group based in Cooranbong, Australia, uses modern kirtan as a primary component of their healing work. Through ethnographic fieldwork, I will engage in participant observation of Shanti Mission events, performances, workshops and classes and will conduct interviews with both musicians and participants. For comparison and contrast, I will also observe more ‘traditional’ kirtan in contexts such Hindu and Sikh temples in Edmonton. “TO BE CONT’D”

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Frishkopf

Student:

Partner:

Macquarie University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Life Sciences (not health); Aboriginal Affairs

University:

University of Alberta

Program: