Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Explore

  • Music and Spirituality
  • Music and African Spiritual Traditions
  • Music and Buddhism
  • Music and Christianity
  • Music and Islam
  • Music and Hinduism
  • Music and Judaism

Music and Spirituality

Smithsonian Music

Music and spirituality are intricately related, with spirituality often being the inspiration for the creation of music, and music so often creating the desired atmosphere for a spiritual occasion.

While spirituality is not necessarily experienced through religion, many people use religion as a conduit for their everyday spirituality. The objects selected here help demonstrate the relationship between music and many of the world's largest religions.


  • National Museum of Asian Art 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of the American Indian 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian Archives - History Div 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographs 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Video recordings 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Sculpture 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musical instruments 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Drums (membranophones) 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Shofars 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Architectural elements 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Books 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Ceremonial objects 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Collages (visual works) 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Buddhists 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Indians of North America 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Japanese 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Native Americans 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Christians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Himalayan peoples 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Iranians 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Jews 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Muslims 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1870s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1890s 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1900s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 900s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Japan 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • USA 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amdo Kumbum monastery? 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Asia 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Baltimore, MD 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Chicago 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • China 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cochiti Pueblo, Cochiti Reservation 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cook County 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of Asian Art 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Google Arts & Culture 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic Arts 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art Collection 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery Collection 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Religion 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • smithsonianfolkways 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Anthropology 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Art 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Religion 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entertainers 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Architecture 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Church buildings 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Charles Lang Freer collection 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Figure group 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musical instruments 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musicians 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 23 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Amazing Grace

Shofar

Gospel Hymns No. 2

Postcard of Organ at St. Michaelskerk

A Buddhist procession of three musicians and one dancer

Drum

Shaman's drum

The Singing Seats in an Old-Time Country Church

Large temple drum with original stand and drumsticks

Untitled

Drum

Choir of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church

Shofar from Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation

Storefront Church Pulpit

Assembly Church

Mahalia Jackson

Old Regular Baptist Church - "When We Shall Meet" [Official Audio]

“The Lord Is My Shepherd (23rd Psalm)”

A Pair Of Temple Drums "Kagura Toiko" (1 Pr.)

Harp

Door panel depicting Buddhist apsara playing music

The Folk Dances of Jodhpur

Drum and drumstick

Drum and drumstick

Buddhist Ekoji - Nen Daiko - Japanese Taiko Drumming

Welcoming Descent of the Buddha of Infinite Light and Twenty-Five Bodhisattvas

McIntosh County Shouters - 'Spirituals and Shout Songs' [Behind The Scenes Documentary]

Dance from West Java

Musical instrument with sounding box and gut strings

Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) by Nizami (d.1209); recto: illustration: Bahram Gur in the turquoise-blue pavilion on Wednesday; verso: text

Fisk Jubilee Singers

Shiva Vinadhara (Holder of the Lute)

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use