Music of the Spheres and the Dance of Death: Studies in Musical Iconology

Kathi Meyer-Baer

Published by Princeton University Press 1970

Music of the Spheres and the Dance of Death

Studies in Musical Iconology

Kathi Meyer-Baer

Volume 1307 in the series Princeton Legacy Library

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400872336

Overview
Contents

About this book

The roots and evolution of two concepts usually thought to be Western in origin-musica mundana (the music of the spheres) and musica humana (music's relation to the human soul)-are explored. Beginning with a study of the early creeds of the Near East, Professor Meyer-Baer then traces their development in the works of Plato and the Gnostics, and in the art and literature of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Previous studies of symbolism in music have tended to focus on a single aspect of the problem. In this book the concepts of musica humana and musica mundane are related to philosophy, aesthetics, and the history of religion and are given a rightful place in the history of civilization.

Originally published in 1970.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
Photographic Sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
List of Illustrations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xvii
ONE. MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
Introduction to Part One Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	2
I. Theories of the Cosmos in Antiquity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
II. The Hellenistic Period Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	20
III. The Early Christian Centuries Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	29
IV. The Early Works of Art Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
V. Tonal Theories of Music of the Spheres Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	70
VI. The Emergence of Celestial Musicians in Christian Iconography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
VII. Late Medieval Writings and Dante's Paradise Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	116
VIII. Musician Angels
DANCING ANGELS AND THE DANCE OF THE BLESSED Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	130
SINGING ANGELS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	138
ANGEL ORCHESTRAS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	143
ANGELS OF THE PSALTER Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	173
ANGELS’ INSTRUMENTS – REAL OR IMAGINARY? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183
IX. Renaissance and Humanism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	188
X. Two Offshoots of the Idea of the Music of the Spheres Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	203
TWO. MUSIC AND DEATH
Introduction to Part Two Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	218
XI. Music as a Symbol of Death in Antiquity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	224
XII. Later Greek Concepts and the Hellenistic Period Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	242
XIII. The Christian Era the Development of Early Medieval Images Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	270
XIV. Later Medieval Images: The Dance of Death Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	291
XV. The Fifteenth-Century Mystics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	313
XVI. Survivals of Earlier Images Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	320
Conclusion: Survivals in Contemporary Musical Concepts Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	337
Appendix I. EXCERPTS FROM FIRST CHAPTER OF LETTER ON HARMONY ADDRESSED TO ARCHBISHOP RATHBOD OF TREVES BY REGINO OF PRÜM Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	349
Appendix II. EXCERPTS FROM THE HYMN “NATURALIS CONCORDIA VOCUM CUM PLANETIS” (“NATURAL HARMONY OF THE TONK AND THE PLANETS”) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	351
Appendix III. THE MUSIC IN DANTE’S COSMOS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	352
Appendix IV. A NOTE ON THE SINGERS OF THE GHENT ALTAR Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	357
Appendix V. REAL OR IMAGINARY INSTRUMENTS: AN EXAMINATION OF THE BEATUS MANUSCRIPTS AND THE UTRECHT PSALTER Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	360
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	365