I'm curious to know what purely instrumental religious pieces are out there in the classical music world. Music by Olivier Messiaen could be a good started point for sacred Christian music ("Illuminations of the Beyond..." immediately comes to mind) and another one I can think of is John Tavener's "The Protecting Veil" for cello and orchestra. As for earlier music I can't seem to think of anything apart from Biber's Rosary Sonatas.
Hundreds of years ago, perhaps thousands, religious music was mainly vocal in order to sing liturgical or sacred texts in places of worship. The purely instrumental pieces I listed above got me wondering what religious music (any religion, not limited to Christianity) has been composed for instrumental forces only...pre-20th century music would be especially interesting because most religious music from then seems to be vocal or choral music.
Anyway, suggestions please!
Hundreds of years ago, perhaps thousands, religious music was mainly vocal in order to sing liturgical or sacred texts in places of worship. The purely instrumental pieces I listed above got me wondering what religious music (any religion, not limited to Christianity) has been composed for instrumental forces only...pre-20th century music would be especially interesting because most religious music from then seems to be vocal or choral music.
Anyway, suggestions please!