Cosmic Music: Musical Keys to the Interpretation of RealityThe idea that the universe is created out of sound or music (and therefore is music) is a very ancient one. In this book, Joscelyn Godwin brings together three contemporary German thinkers who exemplify this tradition in its modern variants: Marius Schneider, Rudolf Haase, and Hans Erhard Lauer. The selections draw on ancient Indian sources and mythology; Kepler's Platonic vision of a musical, geometric universe; and the evolution of the tone systems of music. While every music lover senses the power and truth that reside in music, very few actually approach music as a path to cosmic knowledge. Godwin takes literally Beethoven's assertion that "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom or philosophy." Godwin writes, ". . .to penetrate the mysteries of music is to prepare for initiation into those fathomless mysteries of man and cosmos." |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 7 |
MARIUS SCHNEIDER | 31 |
The Nature of the Praise Song | 35 |
Acoustic Symbolism in Foreign Cultures | 53 |
RUDOLF HAASE | 87 |
Harmonics and Sacred Tradition | 91 |
Keplers World Harmony and its Significance for Today | 111 |
The Sequel to Keplers World Harmony | 131 |
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Common terms and phrases
ancient Anthroposophists aphelion appears archetype become Beethoven body century circle of fifths concrete consciousness consonances cosmic cosmos creation creative creator culture dawn earth earthly empty form ence epoch evolution existence expression Fabre d'Olivet fact fifth fourth gods Greek Guénon Harmonices Mundi harmonikale hence human soul Ibid imperfect consonance incarnation individual inner instruments intervals Johannes Kepler JOSCELYN GODWIN Jupiter Kayser Lambdoma laws manifest mankind means melody ment Mercury minor third modern modes monic motions Mozart musical experience nature octave orbits overtone row perihelion physical planetary planets praise song primordial world principles proportions purely ratios realm relationship represents rhythm rhythmic Rigveda ritual Rudolf Steiner Saturn says scale Schneider semitone sense sequence Shatapatha Shatapatha Brahmana singing spheres spiritual world step string supersensible symbol tetrachord things third tion tonal tone system tradition truth tuning twelve notes Venus vibrations Warrain word worldview zodiac