'The Temple of Music' by Robert Fludd (Music Theory in Britain, 1500–1700: Critical Editions)

Robert Fludd (1574-1637) is well known among historians of science and philosophy for his intriguing work, The Metaphysical, Physical and Technical History of both Major and Minor Worlds, in which music plays an important role in his system of neoplatonic correspondences: the harmony of the universe (macrocosm) as well as the harmony of man (microcosm). 'The Temple of Music' (1617-18) is one section of this work, and deals with music theory, practice and organology. Many musicologists today have dismissed his musical ideas as conservative and outmoded or mainly based on fantasy; only the chapters on instruments have received some attention. However, reading Fludd's work on music theory and practice in the context of his own time and comparing it with other contemporary treatises, it is apparent that much of it contains highly original ideas and cannot be considered old fashioned or conservative. It is evident that Fludd's music philosophy influenced and provoked contemporary natural philosophers such as Marin Mersenne and Johannes Kepler. Less well known is the fact that Fludd's music theory reveals aspects of the development of new concepts that appear to reflect contemporary writers on music such as John Coprario and Thomas Campion. Before now, 'The Temple of Music' has not been easily accessible or available, and the fact that Fludd wrote in Latin has also been prohibitive. This critical edition provides the original Latin, an English translation and essential illustrations. The book will therefore be a useful tool for understanding the position of English music theory around 1600. Robert Fludd (1574-1637) is well known among historians of science and philosophy for his intriguing work, "The Metaphysical, Physical and Technical History of both Major and Minor Worlds", in which music plays an important role in his system of neoplatonic correspondences: the harmony of the universe (macrocosm) as well as the harmony of man (microcosm). "The Temple of Music" (1617-18) is one section of this treatise, and deals with music theory, practice and organology. Many musicologists today have dismissed his musical ideas as conservative and outmoded or mainly based on fantasy; only the chapters on instruments have received some attention. However, reading Fludd's work on music theory and practice in the context of his own time and comparing it with other contemporary treatises, it is apparent that much of it contains highly original ideas and cannot be considered old fashioned or conservative. It is evident that Fludd's music philosophy influenced and provoked contemporary natural philosophers such as Marin Mersenne and Johannes Kepler. Less well known is the fact that Fludd's music theory reveals aspects of the development of new concepts that may have inspired contemporary writers on music such as John Coprario and Thomas Campion. Before now, "The Temple of Music" has not been easily accessible or available, and the fact that Fludd wrote in Latin has also been prohibitive. This critical edition provides the original Latin, an English translation and essential illustrations. The book will therefore be a useful tool for understanding the position of English music theory around 1600 Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Plates List of Figures and Table List of Abbreviations Series Editor’s Preface Preface Introduction The ‘Temple of Music’ The First Book: On the Subject of Music The Second Book: On the Musical System The Third Book: On the Temple’s Square Column or on the Monochord’s Proportional Division from Which the Consonances Are Derived The Fourth Book: On Musical Durations The Fifth Book: On the Temple’s Triangle of Intervals Producing the Consonances or on the Consonances of Symphony The Sixth Book: On the Commonly Known Musical Instruments The Seventh Book: On Our Great Instrument Endnotes Bibliography Index Machine Generated Contents Note: `temple Of Music' -- The First Book On The Subject Of Music -- The Second Book On The Musical System -- The Third Book On The Temple's Square Column Or On The Monochord's Proportional Division From Which The Consonances Are Derived -- The Fourth Book On Musical Durations -- The Fifth Book On The Temple's Triangle Of Intervals Producing The Consonances Or On The Consonances Of Symphony -- The Sixth Book On The Commonly Known Musical Instruments -- The Seventh Book On Our Great Instrument. By Robert Fludd ; Peter Hauge. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 293-307) And Index.