Topic for Spring 2027: Sacred Sounds of South Asia

South Asia is among the world’s most religiously diverse regions. It is also home to several musical genres that serve specific roles in various religious traditions. This course invites leading performers of music and dance to guide our exploration of stylistic commonalities and differences. These workshops will help us reflect on how emotions evoked by sacred sounds are associated with healing and psychological wellness as held by practitioners and devotees. We will examine Carnatic kriti, Buddhist chant, Sikh kirtan, dance forms and other musical genres. Coursework involves focused listening, reading across fields adjacent to and including Religious Studies and Music, short writing assignments, analysis, and discussion. Students may create their own compositions and performances in final projects. A hands-on mode of learning offers a special opportunity to examine notions of “sacred” and “sound” within South Asian creative expression.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Prerequisites: MUS 100, exemption from MUS 100 via the Music Theory Placement Exam, or completion of a first-year writing seminar.

Distribution Requirements: ARS - Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: This is a topics course and can be taken more than once for credit as long as the topic is different each time, with permission from the department.