The Music of the Spheres” by R.I
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Iordanis Eleftheriadis Matr.Nr.: 61800336 The Pythagorean-cosmological concept of the composition “The Music of the Spheres” by R.I. Langgaard. Masterarbeit zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Master of Arts des Studiums KMA Violine an der Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität Linz Betreut durch: Univ.Doz. Dr. M.A. Hans Georg Nicklaus Mag. Predrag Katanic Linz, 1.5.2019 Index 1. Abstract........................................................................................................................4 2. Preface.........................................................................................................................5 3. The Theory of The Harmony of the Spheres. 3.1. Pythagoreanism.........................................................................................6 3.2. Pythagorean Philosophy.............................................................................8 3.3. Mental/Listening abilities of Pythagoras ...................................................9 3.4. What was Music for the Ancient Greeks?.................................................10 3.5. Pythagorean Harmonic.............................................................................11 3.6. Tetractys...................................................................................................13 3.7. Aspects of Harmony in Ancient Greece.....................................................14 3.8. Dualism.....................................................................................................15 3.9. Pythagorean Astronomy...........................................................................16 3.10. The metaphysical side of the Harmony of the Cosmos.............................18 3.11. Pythagorean models of Harmony of the Spheres.....................................18 3.12. Important followers of the Harmony of the Spheres................................19 3.12.1. Plato........................................................................................19 3.12.2. Boethius..................................................................................22 3.12.3. The first musical example of Music of the Spheres.................24 3.12.4. Johannes Kepler......................................................................25 3.13. Philosophical extensions of The Music of the Spheres..............................27 4. The “Music of the Spheres” by Rued Langgaard. 4.1. Rued Immanuel Langgaard......................................................................28 4.2. Works.......................................................................................................29 4.3. Langgaards’ „Music of the Spheres“.......................................................31 2 4.4. Performances and reviews by critics and papers......................................33 4.4.1. First Performance......................................................................33 4.4.2. Second Performance..................................................................36 4.4.3. Versions of the piece after 1922................................................36 4.4.4. Third Performance.....................................................................38 4.4.5. Later Performances...................................................................38 4.5. Instrumentation........................................................................................40 4.6. Song Text inside the Piece........................................................................41 4.7. Analysis of the piece.................................................................................42 4.7.1. Episode 1.................................................................................46 4.7.2. Episode 2.................................................................................48 4.7.3. Episode 3.................................................................................50 4.7.4. Episode 4.................................................................................52 4.7.5. Episode 5.................................................................................53 4.7.6. Episode 6.................................................................................53 4.7.7. Episode 7.................................................................................54 4.7.8. Episode 8.................................................................................56 4.7.9. Episode 9.................................................................................57 4.7.10. Episode 10...............................................................................59 4.7.11. Episode 11...............................................................................60 4.7.12. Episode12................................................................................62 4.7.13. Episode 13...............................................................................63 4.7.14. Episode 14...............................................................................64 4.7.15. Episode 15...............................................................................64 4.8. Conclusion of the Analysis........................................................................69 5. Bibliography.........................................................................................................70 3 1. Abstract The main object of this Thesis is the composition of R. I. Langgaard, “The Music of the Spheres”. The same title was first used by Pythagoras as a philosophical theory. Although a few classical analyses of this composition were made by musicologists, the attempt of this thesis is to view it from a different perspective: A more philosophical one. After exploring the limited-saved original excerpts of the Pythagorean School, a comparison is made with Langgaard’s composition, to investigate if any evidence of this theory can be traced in this music. 4 2. Preface I became very interested in Pythagoras’ life and work, especially when I first read about his view of world harmony and his Theory of Music of the Spheres. I tried to read as much as possible in order to understand this theory. I believe that because this philosophical theory is so connected to music, it led me to discover (by-then unknown to me) the great composition of R. I. Langgaard: “The Music of the Spheres”. After listening to the piece, I was certain that I needed to set it as my main focus for this Thesis, since its character and energy was so captivating. The form of my Thesis is shaped in a way, that a philosophical frame of the Pythagorean’s Theory is foremost established, and then an investigation begins, where it is examined if a connection between Pythagorean’s Philosophy and Langaards’ “The Music of the Spheres” exists. What I am very keen about, is the fact that what I present about that composition, is not merely an analysis from the musicological view, but rather a philosophical one, if I may call it that way. The most important and credible source used in this case, is that of Diels/Kranz in which, original fragments of the Pythagorean School are displayed in Greek. It was a privilege to be able to read and understand the excerpts in original and to research about this specific theme. 5 3. Theory of The Harmony of the Spheres The person of interest in this first part of my thesis, came from Samos of Greece. A boy born in about 570 B.C., the child of a prosperous tradesman and a clever woman, who was by birth, dedicated to the Gods. His name was Pythagoras. He had a burning zeal for knowledge. As an adult he went to Egypt and studied in the College of Priests at Memphis or Diospolis, where he learnt and mastered the secrets of Egyptian science and religion. After moving on to Babylon, he also acquired some Indian and Persian philosophy.1 By the time of his return to Samos at 535 B.C., he was not only attracted and sort after by the Ionian School (a School of philosophers focusing on proving the geometrical proportions of all particular instances) a school he came across priorly in his childhood, but also interested in the systems of religion of the different cultures he came across, in comparison with the philosophical speculations of Thales about Nature and the form of the World.2 Before his migration to Cicely, where his work for which he is famous had been made, he had already gained big fame, recognition and influence as an intellectual. In about 529 B.C., he settled in Croton.3 3.1. Pythagoreanism Soon after the defeat of Croton by a rival city, many reformations needed to be made and Pythagoras came at the right time. His personality and mind attracted attention by the Senate of the city, which later gave him permission to formulate an order, whose purpose was cleansing and restoration of public life. Pythagoras was the absolute ruler of the Brotherhood, which in the beginning had mainly religious character, but later on had educational, ethical, social and scientific facets. It is interesting to know the fact that women had the same place as men inside his, as nowadays called “religious cult”.4 Theano of 1 Rouse (1915), p. 5-6. 2 Rouse (1915), p.6. 3 Ibid., p. 6. 4 Ibid., p. 6. 6 Croton, the wife of Pythagoras, is considered a major figure in early-Pythagoreanism. She was noted as a distinguished philosopher and in the lore that surrounds her, is said to have taken over the leadership of the school after his death. 5 Pythagoreanism as a religious community relied on oral teachings and worshiped by Pythian Apollo. They preached an austere life, believing that the highest