Drum It With Brummet

The Rhythm of Religion * Written by Victor Epand - an former consultant for musicians.  Drum music can be moving in the extreme. It is vital, powerful and speaks to our most basic instincts. Perhaps this is because the purpose of drum music is, in essence, to provide a beat that can be heard by everyone. The beat unites the listeners, puts them all in the same time and space, and creates a bond between them. Given its abilities, it is unsurprising that the drum is one of the most pervasive instruments in the world, found in cultures across every continent on the planet. And even less surprising is the fact that many cultures, at one time or another, have applied the energy of the drum to religion and its ceremonies. It would be impossible to give examples of all the different religious applications to which drums have been put. There are, after all, countless religions in the world today and who knows how many that have died out over the eons. Therefore, I will discuss only the app...