The book of Revelation, or Apocalypse tells of an angel who plays the trumpet. There is closeness between religion and music, indeed. Famous is Saint Augustine’s saying, “He who sings prays twice.” It means that if one prays God by music, his prayer is more effective than that which consists of spoken prayers.
Pope Gregory I (540-604), known as Pope Gregory the Great, collected the ancient Christian chants, later called Gregorian chants, and founded the first singing school in Rome. He also asked the missionaries to bring him any new music sheet they found. There are paintings and stained glasses that show a bird singing near Pope Gregory’s ear.
Actually, music is a universal language. Everybody can feel it. Even with extraterrestrials we can communicate through music. Undoubtedly, music is one of the paths to get close to God. I cannot imagine paradise without music.
As for me, I started learning the piano at the age of sixty-three. Late? No, it’s never too late!
Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo