Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound [Hardcover]

Robert Gass (Author), Kathleen A. Brehony (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 1999

The ancient art of chanting has long been embraced by the world's great religious traditions as a path to healing and enlightenment, but only recently has Western science begun to recognize its therapeutic effects on the body and mind. Chanting provides a fascinating introduction to this powerful and increasingly popular practice and shows you how to use chant in your own life as a powerful tool for relaxation, body-mind healing, and spiritual self-discovery. Drawing on Robert Gass's own experience as one of the world's best-known leaders of contemporary chant, as well as the wisdom of sound healers from around the world, Chanting explores the science of how sound affects both our bodies and our consciousness and takes us on an engaging tour of chant as it is used in Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, African, Shamanic, Goddess, and Native American traditions. Chanting provides simple exercises and more than twenty musical scores to help you develop a personalized chanting practice that can fuel everyday activities with purpose and meaning.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Chant. Chant alone and find your spiritual center. Chant with others and find community. Chant and radiate peace. Chant and open yourself to God. Can chant do all this? The authors insist that it can. Chant is not merely incantation fostering self-hypnosis but an effective tool of spiritual growth. Every religion has a chant tradition rooted in its doctrine and worship. Gass, a scholar of religious music and the founder of Spring Hill Music, and Brehony, a Jungian psychotherapist, lead us on an exploration of the forms of chant used in several religious traditions and discuss their physical and psychological effects. Eclectic and ecumenical, their approach encourages one to experiment widely, all the while recognizing and respecting the tensions and competition among religious beliefs. Readable and informative, Chanting will reward both casual readers and those seeking a more in-depth understanding of this aspect of religious music. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A masterful introduction to the spiritual path of chanting."
--Jean Houston, author of A Passion for the Possible

"This is a beautiful book about the discovery of spirit in all of our lives. Harmonious sounds can open the door to a new level of living. Read so that you may listen to the sounds of inner silence and the music of life."
--Bernie Siegel, M.D., author of Love, Medicine & Miracles and Prescriptions for Living

"The word enchantment suggests becoming one with God through chanting. Robert Gass has achieved this with his own chants and music and guides the reader toward the same in this clear and enlightening explanation of how to develop your own personal practice."
--Deepak Chopra, M.D., author of The Path to Love

"Chanting skillfully initiates and entrains the reader into the marvelous universe of sound and its healing properties. This book evolves and explains what our cells, our bones, and our psyches already know. Allow yourself to become enchanted and re-enchanted!"
--Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Wherever You Go, There You Are

"Chanting is one of the most powerful ways I know to awaken the heart and evoke spirit. Through beautiful stories and evocative images, Robert Gass brings the magic of chant to life in this book that is at once informative, warm, enlivening, and deeply spiritual."
--Joan Borysenko, M.D., author of Fire in the Soul


From the Trade Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Broadway Books; 1 edition (March 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767903226
• ISBN-13: 978-0767903226
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough, hard to find information, May 20, 2000

By 

"eibhinn" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound (Paperback)

This book is a rare find. Most writing about Chanting is based on a single religious doctrine/path. Gass, however, covers Christian, Jewish, Sufi (and other Islamic), Buddhist, Goddess/Pagan, and First Nations (aka American Indian... if you want to be inaccurate...) chants. Whew. The book is written in a very conversational manner. It's easy to read and has a personal feel. I was (pleasantly) suprised to see how much of the book is geared towards teaching the reader to chant. There are "exercises" in nearly every chapter, as well as ideas on how to incorporate chant in everyday life.

Occasionally Gass's shifts to New-Agey lalala kindof material that some people may find off-putting (I kept getting the feeling that he was going to start talking about Astral Projection any moment...) The bulk of the book, however, is pretty down-to-earth and definately recommended. It is respectful to all religious belief systems and is very thorough and is sure to have you chanting, whether Alleleuia or Ommmmm.... (or both...)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining,the definitve guide., May 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound (Hardcover)

Until I read CHANTING I never realized how healing chanting can be for you. This book gives a good history of chant and explains how it is used around the world. I am now chanting in places I have never dreamed of -- while stuck in traffic, doing the dishes and before I meditate!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crosses over all paths, December 15, 2001

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound (Paperback)

We are seeing many artists "cross over" between the arts these days. Robert Gass is probably best known for his recordings on Chant. We might probably be most familiar with the "Merry Meet" song, which has been in .wav form for many years. Mr. Gass now approaches Chant from the literary side with this book.

Mr. Gass gives us a look at how he became personally involved in chant, and then explores the history and mystery of chant. He examines the roots of chant, the various cultures who apply chant in their everyday lives, even how we can learn to chant (Mr. Gass assures everyone they CAN chant). He also explores how chant can be applied to our own personal Spiritually.

I noticed this book can be purchased three ways. You can buy the book alone, or with the 2 CD set. You can also find a book club version with a single CD. I like the CD that accompanies the book. The CD gives you a very good overall accompaniment to the book and for those who are not musically inclined it gives a reference point, and an idea of the style of music we are discussing here.

I also found this book crosses over all Spiritual Paths. Wiccan, Pagan, Native American, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, so many paths utilize chant. Chant does not discriminate. I found this to be another "Celebration of our Diversity" and can be recommended to anyone on any Spiritual Path. I also found it to be a most wonderful tool to be utilized by anyone. Give it a try. I am sure you all know at least one chant from somewhere. How about:

We call come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain
Flowing to the ocean.

You know that one, don't you? See how simple? Sit for a few minutes, singing it over and over. See if you don't feel better. The book has some chants, with music in the back Resource Guide. For those with some music skills, it would be easy to pick up the tunes. The rest of us can sing along with the CD till we have it memorized.

A wonderful exploration of a subject we are probably familiar with but never really explored. I do hope you at least pick up one of his CD's and give this a listen. I think you will be very happy with them.