The Gift of Music

By Lois J. Brisbois

Years ago, when I was teaching a group of students who required special intervention to reach their learning potential, a twelve year old student asked me one morning, “Do you know that when the planets move around the sun they make a most beautiful music? “ I replied that the music was called ‘the music of the spheres.’ He then went on to tell me, “there is no music on earth as beautiful as this music”. We had a little talk about my belief that our most famous musicians could probably hear this beautiful music and attempted to bring it into the world for our enjoyment.

The boy in question had been diagnosed with learning disabilities, and had Tourette’s syndrome as well as obsessive compulsive disorder. School presented daily challenges for him. Until he shared with me his thoughts on music he had never played a musical instrument. Within a few months he was playing lovely pieces at school assemblies. His spirit had attuned to a higher reality and it was being set free.

Many people have realized that music is a great gift to all of us. Following are some quotes that will demonstrate the power of music:

“If I was not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” Albert Einstein

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Plato

“Music is the universal language
of mankind.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“There is no truer truth obtainable by man than comes of music.” Robert Browning

“…man is a musical being. His origin is in the spoken word. By sound was he sustained and by music he endured. One day he would recognize music as a vital factor in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual evolution of the whole human race.” Corinne Helene (1882-1975)

“There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st but in his motion like an angel sings.” William Shakespeare

“Each celestial body, in fact, each and every atom, produces a particular sound on account of its movement, its rhythm or vibration. All these sounds and vibrations form a universal harmony in which each element, while having its own function and character, contributes to the whole.”

– Pythagoras

I think my young student happened upon a truth that the above mentioned great thinkers also discovered. For those who would like to further explore these ideas on music, here are some suggested readings:

“Divine Harmony” subtitle ‘The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras’ by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook

“Music, the Keynote of Human Evolution” by Corinne Heline

“The Cosmic Octave” subtitled ‘Origins of Harmony’ by Hans Cousto

“Sacred Geometry” by Robert Lawler