The Song of the Convert: Religious Conversion and its Impact on the Music of Franz Liszt, Arvo Pärt, and John Coltrane

Abstract

Religious faith has inspired the creation of music throughout history. A number of composers have reported that a religious conversion has had a profound impact upon their creative work. Franz Liszt, Arvo Part, and John Coltrane are examples of composers who have experienced a conversion mid-career where their music changed as a result. Though it is common for composers who have gone through a conversion to begin to write religious music in post-conversion periods, there are often striking differences between traditional sacred music and music composed by religious converts. My dissertation studies how religious conversions can provide a unique perspective for the creation of music due to the new and meaningful circumstances in the personal and spiritual lives of composers who are impacted. Through score analysis, particularly comparing works that are before and after conversion, we can see how religious experience takes effect on the creative work of a composer.