schools.reep.org - Secondary resources: Activity 4





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And what of the non-animal world? There are sounds there too - wind, rain, water flowing - but are these sounds anything other than the product of chance? There is a very old idea that deep within the cosmos there is music - if only we could hear it. The ancient Greeks believed that there was something called 'the Music of the Spheres'.

The Greek philosopher Pythagoras was fascinated by music. This is how he explained the idea of music of the spheres;

Sounds can be described mathematically; different notes, for examples, are created by regular changes in the length of a string.

All the planets, he thought, were created by God as part of a carefully measured cosmos, placed at carefully measured distances from one another.

Therefore, when the planets circled through the heavens, they must create harmonious music.

Some scientists are taking the opposite approach and creating images showing the structure of music. To find out more, see: www.turbulence.org/Works/song/

A beautiful idea - but it is true? Have astronauts ever reported hearing lovely music as they fly towards the moon?

So far, sadly, no one has heard the music of the spheres. In any case, some pre-modern astronomers accepted that the 'music of the spheres' was an ideal, rather than a reality.

The great 17th century astronomer Johann Kepler wrote that:
'I grant you that not sounds are given forth, but I affirm…that the movements of the planets are modulated according to harmonic proportions.'

Next Chapter

Introduction
Music Imitating Nature - Composers & Birdsong - But is it Music?
Music of the Spheres - Science & Music - Does Nature Sing?
To Think About and Do