Literature Review: The Role of Music in Modern European Rituals

Western philosophers have for a long time been paying attention to the social and cultural aspects of music. The endeavour has led to findings being made on the existing connection between repetitive rhythms and ritualistic actions. The findings also address how the two are connected to musical performance. In many societies, especially those in countries where western culture is popular, people have grown accustomed to both pleasant and painful experiences. Most people are accustomed to going to certain places in certain times, dancing to the tune society has set. Most people are accustomed to going into certain places in certain poses that get regulated, normalized, and conducted just as so (Lidskog 2016). This book is a discussion of the role that music plays in modern European rituals, with the statement that music’s capacity to support, enrich and foster the meaning of the ritual strengthens communication bonds between the individual and the group.