Overview
- Argues that sound can manifest divine generosity.
- Fills a gap in the theological engagement with avant-garde music.
- Appeals to scholars in areas of music, theology, and phenomenology.
Part of the book series: Radical Theologies and Philosophies (RADT)
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Table of contents (7 chapters)
Keywords
About this book
What if sounds everywhere lavish divine generosity? Merging insights from Jean-Luc Marion with musical ingenuity from Pierre Boulez and John Cage’s 4’33”, Gerald C. Liu blends the phenomenological, theological, and musical to formulate a hypothesis that in all places, soundscapes instantiate divine giving without boundary. He aims to widen apprehension of holiness in the world, and privileges the ubiquity of sound as a limitless and easily accessible portal for discovering the inexhaustible magnitude of divine giving.
Reviews
“Heidegger would be proud. In Music and the Generosity of God, Gerald C. Liu leads us beyond theo-phenomenologicaldelimitations of musics (plural) in search of a non-conceptual, non-representational, non-discursive mode of sacramental perception. Liu stages an opening—beyond multiple metaphysical and metaphorical closures—in several unexpected works, viz., Robert Rauschenberg’s White Paintings, Pierre Boulez’s Structures Ia, and John Cage’s 4’33”. Inasmuch as these artists harbor sites of Divine generosity, Liu argues, their works free us to perceive a primordial charity wherein, perhaps, God might reveal Godself. This pithy yet expansive text demands careful attention from ethnomusicologists, philosophers, theologians—indeed, all who seek God amid the world’s ‘sonic ubiquity.’” (Jacob D. Myers, Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Columbia Theological Seminary, USA)
“For any who have spent energy considering the relationship between music and theology, this succinct and unsettling contributionby Dr. Liu is a must read. An unabashed romp through late colonial theories, Cagian contributions, and theological interlocutors, this small book is nonetheless expansive in its vision. His work poses many questions. While not agreeing with every idea, I cannot dismiss his helpfulness in expanding the field. If you are interested in examining the role of music in a post-modern theological mode, then this is your guide.” (Edward Foley, Catholic theological Union, USA)
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About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Music and the Generosity of God
Authors: Gerald C. Liu
Series Title: Radical Theologies and Philosophies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69493-1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-69492-4Published: 27 November 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-88787-6Published: 06 September 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-69493-1Published: 16 November 2017
Series ISSN: 2634-663X
Series E-ISSN: 2634-6648
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 140
Number of Illustrations: 4 b/w illustrations
Topics: Christian Theology, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Music