A Love Supreme: Musica Divina with St. John Coltrane
Musica Divina, also known as Audio Divina or Divine Listening, is a contemplative spiritual practice that involves listening to music as a means of connecting with the Divine. It is modeled after the more well-known practices of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) and Visio Divina (Divine Seeing).
The origins of sacred music can be traced back to biblical times. Jubal — a descendant of Cain mentioned in Genesis — is credited as the father of musicians. In Christianity, Musica Divina evolved as a way to experience the sacred through music. It encompasses various forms of traditional religious music, including Classical music, Gregorian chants, and liturgical music. There are also numerous examples of contemporary music such as sacred jazz, gospel, gospel hip-hop, country and folk music that are used for this practice.
The practice of Musica Divina consists of following four main steps:
Audio (Hearing): Listen attentively to a chosen piece of music, noticing what elements capture your attention or stir your soul.
Meditatio (Meditate): Reflect on the feelings, images, memories, or ideas that arise during the listening experience, considering how they connect to your life.
Oratio (Speak): Engage in conscious prayer or dialogue with the Divine, bringing your thoughts and reflections into your spiritual relationship.
Contemplatio (Contemplate): Rest in silence, simply being present with the Divine presence without expectation.
If you are practicing as a group I recommend a fifth step — Communicare (Share). Here you have an opportunity to share insights that came up in the practice. This diversity of perspectives can often lead to a profound multi-faceted interpretation of a piece of music. Here musical training can be helpful but is in no way required. Musica Divina focuses on engagement with the spirit and not the technical attributes of the music.
In order to explore this practice more fully, we will be listening to one of John Coltrane’s most celebrated albums, “A Love Supreme”. "A Love Supreme" is widely regarded as Coltrane's masterpiece and one of the most important jazz albums ever recorded. Coltrane claimed it was his “spiritual manifesto”, which makes it an ideal album for Musica Divina practice. The run time of the full album is 32 minutes and 47 seconds.
Back cover of “A Love Supreme.”
Trane the Saxophone Saint
John Coltrane — also known by the nickname “Trane”— was an iconic American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. He worked with other legendary musicians such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington. He helped to pioneer several styles including bebop, hard bop, and free jazz. He was highly prolific despite having a relatively short career, releasing seminal albums such as Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, A Love Supreme, and Blue Train during the 12 year period between from 1955 to 1967. Perhaps his most significant achievement in life was his battle with addiction, followed by his sobriety and spiritual awakening.
John Coltrane with Miles Davis
Following World War II there was an epidemic of heroin use in the jazz community which had significant consequences for its musicians, including exploitation by business managers and recording label executives, and premature deaths of acclaimed artists such as Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro, and Billie Holiday. Coltrane developed a heroin habit around 1950 which lasted for six years. He also had issues with excessive drinking. His alcohol use, combined with heroin, led to reckless behavior during his time working with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. In 1957, Miles Davis fired Coltrane from his band due to his erratic behavior during live performances.
This was the wake up call that prompted Coltrane to quit his addictions. He locked himself in his Philadelphia home to go “cold turkey”, facing his withdrawal symptoms without medication or medical support. The worst of these symptoms lasted more than a week, during which his daughter Syeeda believed he might die. Coltrane eventually emerged from this ordeal free from addiction. He was profoundly changed both personally and musically. "During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life,” He said later. “At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music".
A Love Supreme
This spiritual awakening had a profound effect on Coltrane's approach to music and life.
Coltrane moved away from complex harmonic structures towards more open, modal forms of jazz, allowing for greater freedom and improvisation. He began incorporating explicit spiritual themes into his work and explored various religious and philosophical traditions, including Eastern religions, in search of a universal spirituality. Coltrane came to view music as a means to express the ineffable and connect with the divine.
The culmination of Coltrane's spiritual journey was his 1965 album "A Love Supreme," which he described as a "spiritual manifesto" and "an offering to God". "A Love Supreme" was a means by which he could express his deep gratitude to God. The album blends modal jazz, hard bop, and avant-garde elements, pushing the boundaries of jazz and creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere.
John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison began recording in a studio in Englewood Cliffs on December 9, 1964. The album, which stands as one of the most important jazz albums of all time, was recorded in just two days.
You can listen to the album on Spotify by clicking on the album title below. Or you can listen to previews of each part by clicking on the tracks below.
Composition
“A Love Supreme” is a four-part suite consisting of "Acknowledgement," "Resolution," "Pursuance," and "Psalm." Each part represents a distinct stage in Coltrane's spiritual journey.
Part 1: Acknowledgement (7:43)
“Acknowledgement” introduces the iconic four-note bass motif that represents the phrase "a love supreme". Coltrane plays this motif in all 12 keys, symbolizing God's omnipresence. Part 1 ends with Coltrane chanting "a love supreme," the only time his voice is heard on the album.
Part 2: Resolution (7:19)
“Resolution” represents Coltrane's commitment to spiritual growth and change, and features a powerful, anthemic melody symbolizing strength and determination.
Part 3: Pursuance (10:42)
Opening with a 90-second drum solo by Elvin Jones, “Pursuance” is an intense spiritual quest or chase after enlightenment. Part 3 ends with a 3-minute bass solo by Jimmy Garrison.
Part 4: Psalm (7:05)
“Psalm” is a musical recitation of a poem written by Coltrane. Coltrane "plays" the words of the poem on his saxophone without speaking them. The album's liner notes include the words to the poem. Part 4 concludes with a musical "Amen.”
Sound Baptism
While Coltrane created other spiritually-themed albums like "Meditations" (considered a spiritual follow-up to "A Love Supreme") and "Om", "A Love Supreme" remains his most celebrated and influential spiritual work in jazz history. Coltrane viewed this album as extremely important and it was the only time he wrote album notes and personally selected the artwork. He only performed the suite live in its entirety once, at the 6th International Jazz Festival in Juan-Les-Pins, Antibes, France on July 26, 1965.
While Coltrane created other spiritually-themed albums like "Meditations" (considered a spiritual follow-up to "A Love Supreme") and "Om", "A Love Supreme" remains his most celebrated and influential spiritual work. The album has had a profound impact on jazz, rock, and even classical music, influencing artists across various genres. Beyond providing inspiration to musicians and music aficionados, "A Love Supreme" has had considerable impact on spiritual seekers. It even led to the establishment of the Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church (also known as the Church of Saint John Coltrane) in San Francisco, where the album is used in worship. The Church of Saint John Coltrane was founded by Archbishop Franzo Wayne King and Reverend Mother Marina King. The Kings were inspired by Coltrane’s performance at the San Francisco Jazz Workshop in 1965, and described the experience as a "sound baptism.”. This led to the founding of a new religious organization that combined jazz music with spiritual worship.
Icon of St. John Coltrane is a unique religious artwork created by Mark Dukes for the Saint John Coltrane Church in San Francisco (Coltrane Church)
Coltrane refused to commit to a single religion, embracing a universal spirituality. His spiritual awakening transformed him from a troubled musician battling addiction to a deeply spiritual artist who saw his music as a way to uplift others and express divine love. In 1966, he was asked how he wanted to be remembered. Coltrane responded, "I would like to be a saint."
His death in 1967 came unexpectedly and shocked the jazz community. Miles Davis expressed his shock stating, "Coltrane's death… took everyone by surprise. I knew he hadn't looked too good... But I didn't know he was that sick—or even sick at all." Coltrane had been suffering from liver cancer for several years apparently. He was survived by his second wife, pianist and harpist Alice Coltrane (who died in 2007) and their three children.
A Love Supreme: 4th Movement - Psalm - In John Coltrane's words.
I will do all I can to be worthy of Thee, O Lord. It all has to do with it. Thank You God.
Peace. There is none other. God is. It is so beautiful. Thank You God.
God is all. Help us to resolve our fears and weaknesses.In you all things are possible.Thank you God.
We know. God made us so.Keep your eye on God.God is. He always was. He always will be.
No matter what... it is God.He is gracious and merciful.It is most important that I know Thee.
Words, sounds, speech, men, memory, thoughts, fears and emotions--time--all related...all made from one... all made in one.
Blessed be his name.Thought waves--heat waves--all vibrations--all paths lead to God. Thank you God.
His way... it is so lovely... it is gracious.It is merciful--Thank you God.One thought can produce millions of vibrations and they all go back to God... everything does.
Thank you God.Have no fear... believe... Thank you God.The universe has many wonders. God is all.
His way... it is so wonderful.Thoughts--deeds--vibrations,all go back to God and He cleanses all.
He is gracious and merciful... Thank you God.Glory to God... God is so alive.God is.God loves.
May I be acceptable in Thy sight.
We are all one in His grace. The fact that we do exist is acknowledgement of Thee, O Lord. Thank you God.
God will wash away all our tears...He always has...He always will.
Seek him everyday. In all ways seek God everyday. Let us sing all songs to God. To whom all praise is due... praise God.
No road is an easy one, but they all go back to God.
With all we share God. It is all with God. It is all with Thee.
Obey the Lord. Blessed is He.
We are all from one thing... the will of God...Thank you God.
--I have seen ungodly--none can be greater--none can compare. Thank you God.
He will remake... He always has and He always will. It's true--blessed be His name--Thank you God.
God breathes through us so completely...so gently we hardly feel it... yet, it is our everything.
Thank you God.
ELATION--ELEGANCE--EXALTATION--All from God.
Thank you God. Amen.
St. John Coltrane Church in San Francisco (SF Gate)
Have you listened to “A Love Supreme” in its entirety? If so, please share your thoughts and reflections.
Have you practiced Musica Divina? If so, what albums would you recommend? Please reply in the comments.
References
https://cliffkosierworshiplife.blog/2021/02/11/worship-through-music/
https://www.lindsayboyer.com/musica-divina
https://www.coltranechurch.org/
https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2000/01/pray-with-music-audio-divina
https://genius.com/album_cover_arts/167128
https://blackmusicscholar.com/a-musical-narration-psalm-from-a-love-supreme/
https://www.openculture.com/2014/12/church-of-st-coltrane.html
https://www.highpointnc.gov/Blog.aspx?ARC=62&IID=66
Kyle Outlaw is a designer and contemplative who is on a mission to make technology usable by humans and not the other way around. A reformed atheist and lapsed Catholic who now identifies as a “spiritual slacker”, he is a third-year novice with the Community of the Incarnation and a student of Zen Buddhism. He is also the founder of Subatomik, an independent bookstore that focuses on art, mysticism, and technology.
What an incredible way to start my day. Thank you for this!