PaganMusichasmanycategoriesandgenres.

Listedbelowaresomeofthe
variousstylesandgenres.Thereisabeiefexplinationofeachgenreandstyleand
afewexamplesofartistswhohaverecordedorcomposedmusicthatisclassified
intothesecategories.Therecanbeasmanystylesascanbesparkedbythe
imagination.Ifyoudon'tseeacategoryofPaganMusicandfeelitneedstobe
includedtothislistpleasesendanemailwithyourinput.Allinputsarewelcome
tothiscollectiveasitisanongoingproject.

PaganLiturgicalMusic

Themusicusedinrituals,magick,worship,andspellworkaretheliturgical
musicofPaganism.OnetermusedforthisgenreisFunctionalMusic,because
themusicservesasafunctionforapurposeotherthanmusicalperformance.In
thisinstanceitservesaspartofthereligiousandmagickalworkings.These
basciallyfallintothreesubcategories.
Chants:Theseareusedduringtheritualandmagickalworkings.Thepurposeof
chantsaretoraiseenergyfromtheinsideandoutwardstodirecttoafocusedset
ofgoals.Thegoalscanbetocastacricle,invokedeity,spellwork(healing,money
spells,prosperity,etc.)
MeditationMusic:Meditationisaprocedurethatdirectsaninwardmovement.
Itistodirectenergyintothepersonanduptothehigherselfandbuildtheinner
temple.Themusicusedforthispracticeistoaideinthefocus.Usuallythemusic
isslowandsoftandinstrumental,butitcanusevocalmusicaswellasfaster
tempos.Italldependsonthetypeofmeditaiton.
InstrumentalMusic:Musicdoesnothavetocontaintexttosendenergytothe
gods.Manydrumcirclesandinstrumentalmusicservethesamepurpose.Many
timesdrummingisusedasanaccompanimenttochantingandareusually(more

oftenthannot)improvised.Instrumentalmusiccanaslobeanytypeofmusic.It
canbeaninstrumentalversionofachant,improvised,orabstractmusic.The
instrumentsusedformagickalgoalscanbespecifictothetypeofmagickthatis
beingcreated.Thisisinmoredetailundermusicasamagickaltool.

DevotionalMusic

Thisstyleofmusicisverysimilartotheliturgicalmusic,howeverit'spurposeis
forperformanceofthemusic.Itcanbeperformedduringritual,butit'spurpose
isnottocastacircleortocreateenergyforaspellorinvokeelementsanddeity.
It'spurposeistohonoranddevotethedeitiesandelementsthrough
performance.

FolkMusic

PaganFolkMusicisderivedfromboththeoraltraditionofsocietiesandthe
FolkMusicmovementofthe1960's.ManyPagansintheearlydaysoftheNeo
PaganMovementusedIrish,Celtic,andotherfolksongsandsetthemtonew
texttobemorePaganthemed.Sometimesitmaynotbefromafolksong,butfits
inthestyleandmood.AnearlyexampleofoneofthesesongsisLordofthe
Dance.ThissongwasoriginallyChristian(writtenbySidneyCarter)but
switchedtofitaPagancentrictheme.ThefirstPaganrecordedversionofthis
songisby.ItalsousesthemelodyofthefolksongSimpleGifts.Gwydion
PedderwenonhisalbumSongsoftheOldReligion.IssacBonewithasdonethis
styleofmusicextensivly.YoucanfindmanyofthesesongsonhisCDsandthe
textonhiswebsiteNeopagan.net.

PaganRockMusic

Rockn'RollmusicinspiredmanyPaganstocomposeandtorecordmusicusing
Pagantextandthemes.Thesearecomposedinthetraditional(ornotso
traditional)rockn'rollbeat.Therearemanydifferentartistsinthisstyleof
music.ThereisalsoasubcategoryofPaganRockMusicknownasHeathen
RockandMetalMusic.ThisisbecausemanyHeathens(averydifferent
tradition)havecreatedmusictofocustheirtraditionsandbeliefs.

Children'sMusic

PaganMusicandGoddessworshipstrikestheflametowardstheteachingto
childrenofPaganParents.AnneHill,Starhawk,andJanetBakerarecredited
towardsbuildingthisgenreextensivly.Theyhavepublshedacollectivebook
calledCircleRound.Thisbookincludesmanysongsgearedtowardschildren.
ThebookincludesthemusicinmusicnotationandacompanionCDofthemusic
isalsoavailable.TheCDisperformedandrecordedbyAnneHill.Othershave
followedinthistradtion.

ClassicalMusic

TherehasbeenafewinthisgenrecomposedasPaganMusic.Twopiecesby
James(Seumas)Gagnewerecomposed:theCantataForBeltainandanOratorio
ontheChargeoftheGoddess.Youcanfindoutmoreabouthimathis
websiteseumasgagne.com.ThereisalsomanyclassicalpiecesthatarePagan
themedandpopularamongmanyPagans.Someofthemusicalcompositionsthat
arePaganthemedareStravinsky'sRiteofSpring,Wagner'sOperasTheRing
Cycle.ThefilmcomposerJohnWilliamsalsocomposesmusicfortheconcert
state.HecomposedaConcertoforBassoonandOrchestracalledTheFiveSaced
Trees.ThispiecewasinspiredbyRobertGraves'TheWhiteGoddess,apopular
bookinWiccianTheoglogy.

Like the Athame, magick wand, staff, broomstick, crytal ball, and other tools of a
Witch or Magickian, musical instruments can be used as a sacred magickal tool.
Each instrument vibrates the tones of magick. These tone color of the musical
instrument relates to a type of magick it can invoke. The magickal energy then
relates back to an element or deity. The following is a list of types of musical
instruments relating to an element or deity.

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Drums/ Wood percussion Instruments: Element of Earth

Musical instruments such as drums, rattles, rhythm sticks, and tambourines

invoke the element of Earth. These instruments can be used to perform magickal
goals corresponding to Earth Magick and spells such as fertility, money, finding a
job, and sending energy to the Earth. Wood percussions can also be used to
invoke the element of Earth in ritual.
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Wind Instruments: Element of Air

Flutes, Recorders, Panpipes, Oboes, Tin Whitles, and French Horns use air to
produce tones. Therefore these instruments invoke the element of Air. You can
use these instruments to perform magick that invoke magickal goals
corresponding to Air Magick. Some examples of magick are to increase mental
powers, increase visulization, and improve psychic faculities. These instruments
can also be used during the invoking of the elmenet of air at the casting of a
ritual circle.
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String Instruments: Element of Fire

Violins, guitars, Lyres, harps, and other string instruments produce tones of
passion and fire. These instruments can be used to invoke the element of Fire.

Some magickal goals can be for sexuality, health, body strenth, passion, will
power, change, courage, and love. Since it can be used to invoke the element of
air during the casting of the circle, string instruments are great to perform
dragon magick as well. String instruments, like the athame can be used to cast
the circle at the beginning of a ritual.
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Metal Percussive Instruments: Element of Water

Metal Percussive instruments such as finger bells, cymbals, sistrums, gongs, and
metal bars are associated with the element of Water. These instrumentsd can be
used in magick and spells such as healing, friendship, spiritual love, compassion,
and happiness. These instruments can also be used to invoke mermaids, dolphins,
and other sea creatures. A great place to use these instruments is during rites on
the beach.

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Instruments associated with Deity

Musical instruments are also associated with deity. In general Percussion
Instruments (wood and metal) correspond to the Goddess. String and Wind
instruments are associated with the God. This make with historical association
with several instruments to deity. The Sistrum (metal instrument) is associated
with Isis. Pan is associated with Panpipes (wind instrument) and Apollo has long
been associated with the Lyre (string instrument). The bullhorn is well associated
with the horned god.