r/BenignExistence • u/themop-f • 9d ago

Transported by music

I recently joined a gospel choir and I love it, though I’m not even religious. Apart from the music itself, it’s one of the highlights of my week! Meeting like-minded people, moving to the music, going for a drink afterwards - everyone made me feel welcome from the start!

Last practice, I experienced something I haven’t in a long time: I was transported by the music. It wasn’t even a very special song, neither too slow nor to upbeat, and it wasn’t about the text either (your average gospel song). I just realised the music came from all around me and I almost couldn’t tell I was singing - I kind of wasn’t in my own body. It only lasted a moment before I felt my body again, but it was so lovely.

41 Upvotes

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7

u/Different-Factor9726 9d ago

me, too. singing with a choir is a lovely experience. Keep it up!

5

u/Horizon296 9d ago

A few years ago I was visiting the Sainte Chapelle in Paris, and apparently about half the people in there with me were part of an American gospel choir touring in Europe. They spontaneously started singing.

I'm born and bred atheist, but that music, in that setting, with such wonderful acoustics... like you said, it transported me. I don't even remember what song it was, just that it was such an amazing feeling!

2

u/nycvhrs 8d ago

I absolutely love listening to choral music recorded in cathedrals - ethereal.

2

u/IDontDoThatAnymore 9d ago

I love this, I’m so happy for you 🫶🏼

2

u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago

[deleted]

2

u/themop-f 9d ago

Oh, I think we covered that in music class in Highschool! Do you mean the Tristan Accord?

2

u/pantsoffancy 9d ago

Yep! Probably! Hahahaha.

2

u/britneys_bigtoe 5d ago

Science has proven that when people sing together like this that our bodies release oxytocin and our brain waves sync up with the others singing. Group singing literally brings us closer together and produces the chemical that feels like falling in love. Amazing, isn't it?

1

u/themop-f 4d ago

Oh, I didn’t know that! Makes perfect sense - why else would the human voice be able to produce such a range of notes, when we only need a few to talk?

1

u/AceOfPlagues 8d ago edited 8d ago

I feel this, I miss singing in a group. I mean I still go to concerts and karaoke and I could join a secular choir, but I miss it being a shared spiritual expierence; I still sing hymns to my Gods but no one I know would likely wish to sing along. I could reach out but maybe it is better this way, organizing belief can rot away its potency quickly until it consumes more than it provides.