1st Edition
Land, Faith, and Voice Christian Music in the Pacific Northwest
This book summarizes a decade of research on its topic, while each specific perspective either formed in advance, or arose in the process of ethnography and its analysis. The book explores various aspects of Christian music in British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon, but primarily its historical facets and local palette. The scope of the main topics covers aspects such as historical and local melodies in relevant hymnbooks, musical practices in the Cathedrals and other churches within the designated area, and the creative profile of modern North American composers (including those who have worked in the Pacific Northwest), who made significant contributions to the church music practiced in the area. Other background and supporting topics are a reference on the history and culture of the Canadian and U.S. parts of the region, the study of Native Christian art, its philosophy and examples, and historical stages and the current landscape of Christianity in British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon.
The book bears the features of a monograph and a handbook at the same time. Among the few other books dealing with specific topics that make up the content of this book, none of them gives an all-around picture of the regional history, society, culture, art, religion, and its musical expression as a holistic phenomenon.
PART I LAND, FAITHS, AND ART
1. Pacific Northwest: Land, People, and Culture
2. Christianity in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon
3. Native Christian Art: Philosophy and Examples
PART II MUSIC IN THE CHURCH
4. Historical and Local Tunes in Hymnbooks
5. Musical Practices in Cathedrals and Parish Churches
6. Contribution of Modern Composers to the Church Music in the Region
Concluding Thoughts
Biography
Alexander Rosenblatt is a harpsichordist and musicologist. Currently, he is a senior lecturer in the Department of Literature, Art, and Music at Zefat Academic College, Israel. He holds a PhD in ethnomusicology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2013). He has been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver (2013–2014) and a visiting researcher at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria, BC (2021), Canada. He is a member of ICTMD (International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance) since 2012 and the board member of FoMRFI (Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments), Oxford, UK. He is also an active member of the Israel Musicological Society and has been its chairman in 2017–2019 and editor of its peer-reviewed academic journal Min-Ad: Israeli Studies in Musicology Online (2021–2023). Dr Rosenblatt has authored scientific articles published in international peer-reviewed journals as well as books pertaining to his areas of research and interest, including music and sociocultural issues, music of Christian worship, and the anthropology of art and music.
This book presents the riveting cultural history of the Pacific Northwest, a territory that crosses the national boundaries of Canada and the U.S., where the diverse populations preserve different centuries-old traditions. In this research, a multicultural historical perspective meets modern-day indigenous art, current movements in the Western church, a palette of hymn books, and church music practices. The author masterfully combines a breadth of thematic coverage, an open-minded discussion of controversial and sensitive topics, and facts from his personal ethnographer’s experience to create a fascinating and comprehensive text.
Prof. Yulia Kreinin
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
