“There’s music in the sighing of a reed; There’s music in the gushing of a rill; There’s music in all things, if men had ears; The earth is but the music of the spheres” Lord Byron
Historic houses can be fascinating. A glimpse into the past and a connection with history. I love wandering through the rooms imagining how it might have been for people living there. And it’s always a bonus if there are old musical instruments too!
Yesterday we went to visit one of these houses with a fascinating exhibit on the life of Lord Byron. It’s the two hundred year anniversary of the death of this famous Romantic poet and it was interesting to find out more about him.
Inspired, I found this wonderful quote about music from one of Byron’s poems. It reminds me of the poem by Rumi, “Where Everything is Music”, that even if the world’s instruments should be no more, the ‘hidden instruments’ will play on, like the ‘flickers’ of a candle or the ‘singing art’ of sea foam.
There is music everywhere if you sit quietly and listen. From the chirping of the birds to the rustling of leaves on a windy day. Other Romantic poets also made a link between nature and music, including Wordsworth who remarked on the autumnal winds and how “wild is the music” in the “faded woods”. Each branch is perhaps a different musical note as the wind breezes past playing its tune.
I was curious about the “earth is but the music of the spheres” and found it was a theory originating in Ancient Greece that the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets made music. Or more specifically tones or a humming sound. Later developed by astronomer Kepler in the 16th century, he did not feel this music was audible but could instead be felt by the soul and gave a “very agreeable feeling of bliss”.
What a great thought, that each planet might be making its own distinct sound and playing a concerto throughout the galaxy that we can’t hear.
Several composers and artists have made use of this concept in their own work, including Hindemith as well as Philip Sparke, and even British rock group Coldplay who wrote an album called ‘Music of the Spheres’.
Interesting food for thought.
