Music and Sport: Being in the Zone

Abstract

We can find a key to the nature of communitas through the flow of music, one of the greatest endowments that gives joy. Linked to the phenomenon of the flow of music and its power to draw people together is the flow inherent in other collective arts and in skilled abilities such as the sporting genres. The phenomenon of flow is also termed, “being in the zone.” In both music and sport, the sense of an inner helping entity is sometimes strong.

Music has the power of making heaven descend upon earth.

—Charles Darwin, quoting the Chinese annals¹