Customer Reviews

Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound

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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...)

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!

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.

Provides a good overview of world chant. You certainly can't go wrong starting here but if you are a serious explorer seeking to delve into the more esoteric realms of toning, chant, healing with sound vibration and the "sound current", check out my favorite new sound healing find: Travelling the Sacred Sound Current: Keys for Conscious Evolution" (book & cd) by vibrational healer Deborah Van Dyke...its a spiritual treasure.

Robert Gass (born 1948) is a leadership coach and organizational consultant, seminar leader (with his wife Judith) and musician. He also directs the vocal group "On Wings of Song," with which he has recorded albums such as Ancient Mother, Om Namaha Shivaya: Deluxe Tenth Anniversary Edition, Enchanted: Best of, etc.

In his Foreword to this 1999 book, Don Campbell (author of The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit, Creating Inner Harmony: Using Your Voice and Music to Heal (Book & CD), etc.) writes, "The past decade has witnessed Gregorian chant becoming a best-selling phenomenon in Europe and America. Robert Gass's recordings of chants have inspired hundreds of thousands of listeners and helped revive the power of the repeated musical prayer... This long overdue and important book helps us to see how we can use our voices, spirits, and bodies to foster greater harmony in our communities and families. (The book) brings to life a remarkable world of devotional expression. The simple and practical exercises included here, along with the imaginative descriptions of chant as a living presence of faith, hope, and joy, give us the keys to unlock our bodies, minds, and hearts."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"(M)y wife Judith and I attended a ten-day yoga retreat led by Swami Satchidananda in Connecticut. Although we had taken some yoga classes and had begun reading spiritual books, this was our first real immersion into the spiritual path. Within the first few days, I was profoundly taken with the feeling that I had come home. And while I eagerly took to both the yoga and meditation, it was, not surprisingly, the chanting that made the strongest impression. The words were now Sanskrit rather than English, but I felt like I had been chanting all my life." (Pg. 6)
"Vocal sound is essentially audible breath, and in the sacred sounds of chanting, we begin---and end---with the breath... we also breathe deeply in chanting because breath is itself the very ruach, 'life's mystery,' the gateway between earth and heaven." (Pg. 53)
"Although Islamic tradition in general frowns upon instrumental music as a sensual distraction from a devout life, there exists a rich tradition of chanting Quran and intoning prayers." (Pg. 87)
"You don't need a lot of vocal technique to chant. Chanting is said to be 'the breath made audible,' and learning to breathe well is the first step in learning to chant." (Pg. 118)

This an excellent collection for those who are interested in different ways of praising God.

I KISS the pages of Chanting. (When I ordered this book from One Spirit book club, there was an exclusive complimentary CD, with the 'best of' which included Cuncti Simus, Alleluia, Santa Maria, Sri Ram, Om Namaha Shivaya and the surprise of unreleased tracks ~ beautiful CD. This choral group named "On Wings Of Song" blesses and enriches my little life with such grandeur - The music is a dear invitation to enter the imperishable worlds of Love and devotion. Bhakti incarnate. Praise manifested! Be soaked in gratitude and bliss while sweeping the kitchen floor with a Diamond Heart and a garland of Glory....Look!...only emeralds and rubies in the dust pan. All is God.

The elixir pulsing from the collective Messiah (Heart) transmit the primordial OM....We are drowning in the sea of God's Love. OM, this luminous prana is alive with rhythm and rhapsody. Listen deeply. You can hear the twilight and the nebula chorus. The constellations are a lullaby. The cosmic vibration is so lovely - quicken your heart to accept its sonic invitation. Forget groceries. Forget the magic beans. Trade the cow in for this lotus book and every CD performed by Robert Gass and On Wings of Song. ~ Selah Love Violet/Mathilda, except for when I'm in India - then I'm Lalita, but my Grampa calls me "brown eyes". Om Namaha Shivai sweet children.

Did I mention that I simply adore this book? JOY. Jai Jai Jai ~ hari om. Bless you Robert, brother of my heart. (pranam) Namaste.