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other perception based inputs, like sound and sight. This means that the emotions induced by music influence our experience of the context in which we perceive the music.
At the same time, music acts as an external source of rhythm, which, according to Mari Reiss Jones, entrains the listeners, accommodating a shared framework of rhythm as discussed in Chapter 2. Thus, music influences the human experience of musically based rituals by providing a rhythmic structure to the event, and by evoking emotions relevant to induce behaviour appropriate to the event. In summary: music sets the stage by inducing an emotional state relevant to the ritual, be it slow organ music or fast pounding drums. The emotional state influences our perception of the event in a way that enhances experiences relevant to the extraction of the knowledge embedded in the context of the event, thus enabling the transference of cultural knowledge between people and across generations.
An example of how music and sound helps structure a religious event can be found in the liturgy of a communion service in the Lutheran church31.
I. ENTRANCE
II. MINISTRY OF THE WORD
III. DISMISSAL
1. Organ Prelude
6. Reading from the Old Testament
15. Final Collect
2. Opening Prayer
7. Hymn
16. Blessing
3. Opening Hymn
8. Reading from the New Testament
17. Closing Hymn
4. Introductory Greeting
9. The Creed
18. Closing Prayer
5. Introductory Collect
10. Hymn
19. Organ Postlude
11. Gospel Reading 12. Sermon 13. Prayer of the Church 14. Hymn
A service begins with the church bells ringing, thereby drawing attention to the church making it salient in comparison to surrounding buildings. Including the church bell, the first four actions pertaining to the church service, three of them are based on music or sound. The following 31
http://www.interchurch.dk/liturgy/liturgy.php