The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness
Sound and silence in nature intensify our perception of the non-anthropogenic world, of that which seems unaffected by humans and has been considered transcendent, eternal, and sacred. This is especially true in mountain settings. Mountain wilderness manifests a reality beyond anthropocentrism, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/8/992 |
| _version_ | 1797583335770292224 |
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| author | Marcus Zagorski |
| author_facet | Marcus Zagorski |
| author_sort | Marcus Zagorski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sound and silence in nature intensify our perception of the non-anthropogenic world, of that which seems unaffected by humans and has been considered transcendent, eternal, and sacred. This is especially true in mountain settings. Mountain wilderness manifests a reality beyond anthropocentrism, and this reality becomes perceivable, in part, through sound. When described in the language of soundscape ecology, mountain soundscapes can be characterized by a lack or reduction of anthrophonic sounds and the presence or increase of geophonic and biophonic sounds. When described in the language of philosophy and religion, these soundscapes have been said to offer an ideal space beyond impermanence and rational explanation and contain that which is unchanging and inexplicable. The search for personal contact with that which is unchanging and inexplicable, and the attendant belief that these qualities reveal a higher form of reality, is a search for the sacred, and mountain soundscapes have played a significant but as yet unexamined role in this search. Across different religions and secular practices, in different cultures and historical periods, mountain soundscapes have acted as catalysts for sacred experience. This article uses the combined perspectives of philosophy, religion, and soundscape ecology to map some of the physical and intellectual terrain in which such experience has taken place. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:37:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46498f3d37314c809faeca8cae32e121 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:37:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-46498f3d37314c809faeca8cae32e1212023-11-19T02:50:43ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-08-0114899210.3390/rel14080992The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain WildernessMarcus Zagorski0Department of Musicology, Comenius University Bratislava, Gondova 2, 81102 Bratislava, SlovakiaSound and silence in nature intensify our perception of the non-anthropogenic world, of that which seems unaffected by humans and has been considered transcendent, eternal, and sacred. This is especially true in mountain settings. Mountain wilderness manifests a reality beyond anthropocentrism, and this reality becomes perceivable, in part, through sound. When described in the language of soundscape ecology, mountain soundscapes can be characterized by a lack or reduction of anthrophonic sounds and the presence or increase of geophonic and biophonic sounds. When described in the language of philosophy and religion, these soundscapes have been said to offer an ideal space beyond impermanence and rational explanation and contain that which is unchanging and inexplicable. The search for personal contact with that which is unchanging and inexplicable, and the attendant belief that these qualities reveal a higher form of reality, is a search for the sacred, and mountain soundscapes have played a significant but as yet unexamined role in this search. Across different religions and secular practices, in different cultures and historical periods, mountain soundscapes have acted as catalysts for sacred experience. This article uses the combined perspectives of philosophy, religion, and soundscape ecology to map some of the physical and intellectual terrain in which such experience has taken place.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/8/992soundscapesmountain wildernessanthropocentrismsacred experience |
| spellingShingle | Marcus Zagorski The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness Religions soundscapes mountain wilderness anthropocentrism sacred experience |
| title | The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness |
| title_full | The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness |
| title_fullStr | The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness |
| title_short | The Sacred Soundscapes of Mountain Wilderness |
| title_sort | sacred soundscapes of mountain wilderness |
| topic | soundscapes mountain wilderness anthropocentrism sacred experience |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/8/992 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcuszagorski thesacredsoundscapesofmountainwilderness AT marcuszagorski sacredsoundscapesofmountainwilderness |