Music as a Chariot

Chapter 9

Ritual, Arousal, Reward, Ecstasy

Introduction: From High Mass to Ecstasy

I grew up in a little town outside of Detroit, Michigan, called Chesterfield Township. When I was six years old, St. Louis parish opened its new church in neighboring Mount Clemens, and I followed my brothers to the parochial grade school there having no idea what to expect as I entered first grade. Perhaps anxious to make the most out of its beautiful new church, our school year started out with a High Mass in Latin. If it was their intention to clearly impress upon me that I was an insignificant pea in the face of the Almighty, they succeeded. Really succeeded. I can still remember my overwhelmed reaction to what seemed like the enormous sanctuary and nave, dimly ...