as a pious but curious kid growing up i would often have long discussions with my atheist high school geography teacher about belief and religion.

music is my religion

he would tell me.

as with so many of the lessons he imparted i didn’t fully grasp its meaning until much later in life.

watching meredith monk‘s songs of ascension, a collaboration with ann hamilton, at bam‘s stunning harvey theater tonight tonight was an experience recognizable from my religious youth. ritual and repetition combine in some kind of inexplicable communal transcendence.

it’s a wondrous state that may be brought about by music, sex, love, physicality, pain, drugs, and yes, religion.

tonight as so often is the case, music is my religion.

listen to meredith monk talk about the piece on wnyc.

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