Sacred sounds and music have inspired and sustained humanity throughout time. Explore the different sacred sounds. What sonic similarities do you hear?
Pututu from Chavín de Huántar A pututu is a conch shell used, from ancient times, as a musical instrument in the Andes. This recording captures the sound, such as scientists believe was used in pre-Inca religious ceremonies at Chavín de Huántar, Peru. Here's another recording of this ethereal sound from the Chavín de Huántar Archaeological Acoustics Project.
Sacred Spaces Sound Map - Click on the link, and when the new page opens, scroll down the page to explore sacred sounds from around the world.
Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music - A full concert by members of a group traditionally regarded as the original praise-singers of the Malinke people, one of the ethnic groups found across much of West Africa.
Baháʼí Choir - Baháʼí World Congress choir made up of singers from around the world.
Shinto and Buddhist Sacred Music: Japan - Click on the link, and when the new page opens, scroll down the page to listen to several examples of these sacred sounds.
The Temple Music of Ancient China - A rare glimpse into the sacred sounds of Chinese temples 500 years ago.
ResoNation: Sacred Sounds Beyond Borders - Highlights from ResoNation, Sacred World Music Festival (2019).
American Religious Sounds Project - A playlist of sounds documenting the diversity of American religious life as found in its varied sacred sounds and music.
Omaha Indian Music - Traditional songs with sacred significance. Learn more about other music in this Smithsonian Institution collection here.