"What has Christ to do with Apollo?": Unpacking the Apollonian and Dionysian Principles in Joseph Ratzinger's Theology of Music

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The Apollonian and Dionysian spirits occupy a central role in the theology of liturgical music proposed by Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI). These terms highlight different priorities in music: the Apollonian represents reason, while the Dionysian represents primal emotion. Ratzinger holds that liturgical music should always be Apollonian, placing himself in a tradition that goes back to Plato. This article examines the history of this tradition, and argues against the Dionysian alternative proposed by Nietzsche and its current proponents, who regard the priority of the Apollonian spirit as essentially a form of European colonialism. Citing an example from Kongzi (Confucius), I show that the Apollonian spirit is not limited to Western thought, and allows for an experience of the Logos, a universal value.