Music, the Art Behind the Five Senses

Music, the Art Beyond the Five Senses

BY CHARBEL T. FAHED, GRAND MASTER OF MASONS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Beyond the Five Senses of Human Nature, there is what some call that Sixth Sense, which is beyond explanation or concrete evidence in real-life experience. A vast horizon of spiritual activities may be laid open to the inquisitive mind and to those who are seeking self-improvement in order to satisfy their thirst for knowledge in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. Here these seekers may quench their thirst from a well of infinite and voluptuous ecstasy. Here, perhaps, is the dwelling place, indeed the origin, of music.

In Freemasonry, we are familiar with music as one of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences. Pythagoras, our ancient Friend and Brother, is known for the Music of the Spheres. Albert Pike, writing in Morals and Dogma, notes in his mystical way that in “the Kabala [sic], the last Seven Sephiroth constituted ATIK YOMIN, the Ancient of Days; and these… correspond with… the Seven notes of the musical octave.” (“Knight of the Sun” Degree Lecture, p. 727, classic edition) a march or procession with and then without music? Would one

feel that its treble is pounding on one’s heart and hugging one’s spirit? It is perhaps no accident that some of the world’s greatest composers – Haydn, Mozart, Liszt, Sibelius, and Sousa – were attracted to join the fraternity and, in many cases, write music for ceremonial Masonic purposes.

I recently had an opportunity to visit this autumn’s production of Mozart’s Masonic-influenced opera Th Magic Flute by the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It was an impressive and beautiful performance which everywhere brought out the connection between music, mathematics, and Masonry! In her work Th Masonic Thread of Mozart, Katherine Thomson writes that “in spite of all of its varied elements – magic, pantomime, solemn ritual – The Magic Flute is a complete unity, and its unity is essentially due to the music.” I would argue that the unity is due to the “Triple M” – Music, Mathematics, and Masonry!

There is a nexus between music and mathMusic is a subset of education, the natuematics, and as a mathematician I know ral education which emanates from the that the human ear responds logarithmisoul and requires careful incubation to cally to sound in general. Yet music can mature and display its splendid power resonate better in sub-layers of sound and and magic. Mathematics in turn supports integrate more smoothly with the compothe idea of harmony and proportion in nents that relate these signals to the body. music, thus tempering a chaotic world of Music motivates the dormant strings of chaos and disruption – symbolized in Th the brain to bring forth energy to the Magic Flute by the Queen of the Night. entire system of the universe, as well as to The high-frequency soprano sound of the individual soul. the Queen, full of rage, represents confusion in a world of darkness disguised by Perhaps for this reason, music is used in the pomp of mundane power and false diverse applications in life as a balsamic glory. Sarastro’s Temple of Wisdom (a treatment. It improves the health the stand-in for Masonry which gives the patient and speeds his recovery in the opera its ethical dimension) triumphs hospital. It brings sleeps to those with and restores equilibrium. Finally, a sweet insomnia and quiets the nerves from and pleasant music represents the hearts tension. It helps infants into a pleasant of young lovers, resulting in a pleasant sleep and nice dreams. It spreads joy to conclusion – one which overcomes all the listener and relieves the burdened Some of the greatest composers in the world trials and brings forth the shining light of heart. It disseminates happiness and eliminates tension. have been Masons, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn Sketches by Cordelia Dreisonstok truth and reason. Music is one of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences which Masons the music of Masonic composers can lift the spirit and, like are encouraged to use in order to develop their faculties and Masonic lectures in our various degrees, teach the sublime truths enhance their knowledge in practical life. Accordingly, music is of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. Yet even the greatest music in highly encouraged to be played in Lodges and major ceremonial the world – like our Gentle Craft itself – is but a gateway into the events in order to make them more successful and render their perEternal, a sublime intimation of that “house not made with hands, formances more solemn. Would one notice the difference between eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).  This production of The Magic Flute and