would you consider plainsong/ gregorian chant to be a form of meditation, or a form of worship, or both?

Question

yes, solarius, there are many protestant curches that use plainsong. in the lutheran church, we chant all kinds of psalms using plainsong, always ended with the Gloria Patri (glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. amen.). the russian orthodox church has their own version of chant. i can't remember what it's called, but it's truly beautiful.

Answer 1

I'd consider it a form of worship, but not meditation. When you are singing in chorus, you have to pay attention to what you're doing. This is not conducive to meditation. Singing is a conscious expression and should be consciously offered as worship.

However, if you wanted to use *recorded* plainsong as a background for meditation, that would work.

Answer 2

I don't know much about them, but I would guess both. Sometimes speaking in tongues sounds like a Gregorian chant.

That was kind of an extended definition of "Gloria Patri." It would literally be "Glory to the Father."

Answer 3

Gregorian chants are, to me, a form of worship. But I can see how one could use them as a form of meditation, as well. In fact, there is a (non-Catholic) church here that has a night set aside for chanting and meditation, and they use Gregorian chants, among many other types of singing and chanting.

Answer 4

Both/either

Whether meditational or worship depends entirely upon the intent of the performer. Chant is suited by form and text to either function. They can also be entertainment (but probably weren't in their time).

Answer 5

My initial response would have been that it's a form of worship. However, after reading the other responses and seeing that it can be used for meditation, I'd have to change my mind and say, "Both." The answer about using it to fall asleep is especially enlightening and makes me want to try it myself.

Answer 6

Not knowing the source.when you chant is only helpful to the innocent.But if you belong to the hihger innocence group it makes all the difference knowing the source of the chant.

Answer 7

As I do not believe in a god - I so go for the first. The singularity of the focus on the music is a mediative form. And it is beautiful.

Answer 8

I don't know about worship but i listen to gregorian chants to fall asleep and it totally works. Maybe it is spiritual, maybe it is worship but it just relaxes me.

Answer 9

It has always reminded me of Buddhist chants

Answer 10

It has always reminded me of Buddist chants.