Is fellowship still possible? In this volume Jochen Kaiser analyses how we experience music during church services. In his view singing and making music may best be seen as both the individual and collective expression of the faith of those assembled.Music during church services can be a convincing expression of the faith of the individual, both of heart and soul. All persons present become part of a temporary, spiritual collective.The resultant meaning of church music for the religious experience of the individual forms the empirical part of this work by Jochen Kaiser. He sent out an appeal to collect essays and musical examples taken from actual experiences, 64 of which he analysed using the so-called documentary method. The results show that singing and making music during church services can be interpreted as both an individual and collective expression of the faith of those present.

Dr. phil. Jochen Kaiser unterrichtet Liturgik und Hymnologie am Kirchenmusikalischen Seminar in Halberstadt und ist Kirchenmusiker in Wernigerode.