Word Chant and Song

<p><b>An accessible introduction to the centrality of word chant and song in the Hindu Buddhist Islamic and Sikh traditions.</b></p><p>In academic religious studies and musicology little attention has been given to chanted word hymns and songs yet these are often the key spiritual practices for lay devotees. To address this gap in knowledge Harold Coward presents a thematic study of sacred sound as it functions in word chant and song for devotees in the Hindu Buddhist Islamic and Sikh traditions. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction of a particular tradition's word/scripture followed by case studies showcasing the diversity of understanding and the range of chant and song in devotee practice and concludes with a brief illustration of new trends in music and chant within the tradition. Written in a style that will appeal to both scholars and lay readers technical terms are clearly explained and case studies explicitly include devotees' personal experiences of songs and chants in public and private religious ritual.</p>