Table 3.4.5 A Selection Quotations of Poets, Leaders, and Historical Figures on the importance of Music in Nathan's Musurgia Vocalis

Milton in his Traetate on education

“If wise men and prophets are not out, music has a great power over the dispositions, and manners, to sooth and make them gentle from rustic harshness and distempered passions" Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 44

Jean–Baptiste Grosier (1743–1823)

Egypt had a Hermes Trismegistus who by the softness and charms of his voice finished the civilization of men, if Greece had an Amphion who built cities by his harmony alone, and an Orpheus, who by the sound of his lyre suspended the rivers, and made the rugged rocks follow him. China can boast of miracles no less inspiring performed by her musicians. She had a Lyng–tun, a Kouci, and a Pin–moukia, who by their kin and their che, produced sounds capable of softening the hearts of men, and of taming wild ferocious animals." Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 3

Martin Luther

[Luther]”… had an uncommon genius, a lively imagination, a good share of learning, a tincture of melancholy and enthusiasm, and a great warmth of impetuosity, which impelled him to insult and ridicule his adversaries. He was fond of music, and both composed and performed, which he said were equally good for soul and body : that it expelled melancholy, and put the devil to flight, who mortally hated music. He entertained a mean opinion of the capacity and disposition of those who had taste for this excellent art.” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 45

Quintilian

“Quis ignorat, musicen tautùm jam illis temporibus antiquis, non studii modo, verum etiam venerationis habuisse, ut iidem musici et vates judicarentur?"

"Who is so ignorant, as not to know, that music in ancient times was not only so much studied, but held in such veneration, that the same persons who were musicians were also accounted prophets and wise men." Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 4

Dr. John Gauden

"Who doubts but David, and the whole Church of the Jews, served God in spirit and in truth, amidst those joyful and harmonious noises they used with singers and musical instruments ? The gift and use of music is so sweet, so angelical, so heavenly and divine, that it is pity God should not have the glory and honour of it in his service, and the church an holy comfortable use of it. That such an orient pearl may not be used only in civil conventions, or abused in wanton carrols and vain effusions, which is to put a jewel in a swine's snout certainly the Christian Church hath more cause to rejoice, than the Jew's had."

Thomas Ravenscroft

“Of the miraculous powers of music we have innumerable instances recorded by the ancients, which, there can be little doubt, are chiefly allegorical.” Orpheus… “by the harmonious touch of his harp, moved the wild beasts and trees to dance, justly observes, the true meaning thereof is, that by virtue of their music, and their wise and pleasing musical poems, the one brought the savage and beast–like Thracians to humanity and gentleness ; the other persuaded the rude and careless Thebans to the fortifying of their city, and to a civil conversation. Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 9

Horace

“Cicero says, there is nothing more rationally agreeable to our minds than numbers and sounds, for by these our passions are excited and inflamed; and by these also they are soothed and taught to languish: he informs us that the Pythagoreans were used to tranquillize their minds, and to compose their thoughts and imaginations by means of music. Tuscal. iv. See also Horat. Carm. lib iv. od. xi.” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 44

Plato

"The plan which we have been laying down for the education of youth, was known long ago to the Egyptians, viz. that nothing but beautiful forms and fine music should be permitted to enter into the assemblies of young people. Having settled what those forms and that music should be, they exhibited them in their temples ; nor was it allowable for painters, or other imitative artists, to innovate or invent any forms different from what were established ;" and, continues he [Plato], "other things practised among that people may, perhaps, be blameable ; but what they ordained about music is right ; and it deserves consideration, that they were able to make laws of this kind, firmly establishing such melody as was fitted to rectify the perverseness of nature. This must have been the work of the Deity, or of some divine man ; as, in fact, they say in Egypt, that the music which has been so long preserved, was composed by Isis, as was likewise the poetry." Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 4

Martin Luther

"Music," says Luther (the Reformer), "is one of the most beautiful and most glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy. By music many tribulations and evil thoughts are driven away. It is one of the best arts; the notes give life to the text. It expelleth melancholy, as we see in king Saul. Music is the best solace for a sad and sorrowful mind. By means of music the heart is comforted, and settles again to peace. It is said by Virgil," 'Tu calamos inflate leres, ego dicere versus; Sing thou the notes, and I will sing the words.”Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis,  45

"Music is one half of discipline, and a school–mistress that makes men more gentle and meek, more modest and intelligent. Music is a gift of God, and nearly allied to theology. I would not for a great deal be destitute of the small skill in music I have." " I am glad," adds he, " that God has bereaved the country clowns of such a great gift of comfort, as they neither hear nor regard music” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 45

St Patrick

“St. Patrick (according to the Irish historians), when he converted Ireland into the Christian faith, destroyed 300 volumes of their songs. Such was their dignity in this country, that they were permitted to wear a robe of the same colour with that of the royal family. They were constantly summoned to a triennial festival, and the most approved songs delivered at this assembly were ordered to be preserved in the custody of the King's historian or antiquary.
Many of these compositions are referred to by Keating, as the foundation of his history of Ireland” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 23

Hindu; Seraswatej, the wife of Brimah

“Seraswatej, the wife of Brimah, presides over music, harmony and eloquence ; she is also said to be the inventressof the letters called Devanagny, by which the divine will was first promulgated among mankind. This goddess is supposed to have a number of inferior deities, called Rings or Ragas, acting in subordination to her ; they preside over each mode. The Rragas are accompanied each with five Rragnies or Raguis, female deities or nymphs of harmony ; they have each eight sons or genii, and a distinct season is appointed for the music of each Bag, during which only it can be sung or played, and this at distinct and stated hours of the day or night.” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 35

Shakespeare

“From the Merchant of Venice.

There's not the smallest orb,

which thou behold'st,

But in his motion like an angel sings,

Still quiring to the young–ey'd cherubims;

Such harmony is in immortal sounds!

But whilst this muddy vesture of decay

Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it.”Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 12

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola

“Music sets the spirits in motion, and thereby produces the like effects on the mind as medicine does on the body.” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 42

Strabo

“The Egyptians, according to Strabo (Bib. 1.), taught their children songs appointed by law, and a certain species of music established by government, exclusive of all others.”Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 4

Pythagoras

“Pythagoras is said to have had an absolute command of the human passions, to turn them as he pleased by music ; meeting a young man, who was running to burn his rival's house in a fit of jealousy, Pythagoras allayed his temper, and diverted the design by the sole power of music.”Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 43

Robert Boyle

“Boyle tells us that he has often felt the stalls tremble under his hands at the sound of an organ, or voice, in a cathedral ; and he has been assured that those stalls which were firmly put together, vibrated at some determinate tone.” Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 56

Ancient Greeks on the Symphony of the Stars

“Plato, Philo, Judoeus, St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Isidore, Boethius, and many others, are strongly impressed with the idea of this harmony, attributing it to the various proportionate influences of the heavenly globes upon one another, which acting at regular and distinct intervals produce perfect concords. It is impossible, according to them, that such spacious bodies, moving with so much rapidity, should be silent. On the contrary, the atmosphere continually impelled by them, must yield a set of sounds proportionate to the impulsions it receives, consequently, as they do not all run the same circuit, nor with one and the same velocity, the different tones arising from the diversity of motions, directed by the hand of the Almighty, must form an admirable symphony or concert.”Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 12

Polybius

“Polybius assures us that music was necessary to soften the manners of the Arcadians, who inhabited a country where the air was cold and impure that those of Cynoatha, who neglected music, surpassed all the Greeks in cruelty; and that there was no city, in which so many crimes had been perpetrated.”

Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 74

Plato

“Plato, who studied and taught in Egypt thirteen years (in his Dialogue, p. 789) says," The plan which we have been laying down for the education of youth, was known long ago to the Egyptians, viz. that nothing but beautiful forms and fine music should be permitted to enter into the assemblies of young people. Having settled what those forms and that music should be, they exhibited them in their temples ; nor was it allowable for painters, or other imitative artists, to innovate or invent any forms different from what were established ;" and, continues he, "other things practised among that people may, perhaps, be blameable but what they ordained about music is right ; and it deserves consideration, that they were able to make laws of this kind, firmly establishing such melody as was fitted to rectify the perverseness of nature. This must have been the work of the Deity, or of some divine man ; as, in fact, they say in Egypt, that the music which has been so long preserved, was composed by Isis, as was likewise the poetry." Nathan, Musurgia Vocalis, 74

Preface

Chapter I A Short History of Music

Chapter II On the Effect of Music Over the Moderns

Chapter III On the Effect of Music upon Animals

Chapter IV On the Abuse of Music