Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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MORALITY OF MUSIC

The recognized fact that music and song, apart from the words used, have the ability to arouse either noble or base feelings and emotions in the persons who hear a melody. The reason for this emotional influence seems to lie deeper than the familiar association of ideas with certain music or song. It involves something inherent in all musical rhythm to evoke a human response that is either morally elevating or degrading, depending partly on the listener but also on what is heard.