Introduction
“Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful, or of him who is ill-educated ungraceful; and also because he who has received this true education of the inner being will most shrewdly perceive omissions or faults in art and nature, and with a true taste, while he praises and rejoices over and receives into his soul the good, and becomes noble and good, he will justly blame and hate the bad, now in the days of his youth, even before he is able to know the reason why; and when reason comes he will recognize and salute the friend with whom his education has made him long familiar… Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order, and leads to all that is good and just and beautiful.” — Plato [Republic]
Welcome to Fleursonnen Music, formerly Music and Love Heal, a journey into the majestic healing properties of music and the arts. I am an academic at heart and believe that continuous learning stimulates the growth of the soul. Though much of what you find on the internet today is media encapsulated into the briefest of forms, it is my strong belief that rigorous, in-depth immersion in the arts is essential for the development of human intellect, and the evolution of society as a whole.
It is my goal to make much of this information available for free, so that socioeconomic barriers are never a factor in the pursuit of artistic excellence. All of the articles will be well sourced, and I encourage the reader to further pursue any topics of interest. Scientia potentia est…knowledge is power!
Plato, a Greek philosopher who was born around 428 BCE and died around 347 BCE, almost 2500 years ago. Student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, Plato is considered one of the founders of Western philosophy and spirituality. He believed music belonged in the same category as mathematics and astronomy, which coincided with the Ancient Greek belief in musica universalis (universal music), also called music of the spheres. This is the idea that the celestial bodies — the Sun, Moon, and planets — create a musical vibration that can be felt in the human soul, giving a divine, otherworldly perception of both our galaxy, and the magical impact of music here on Earth.
Plato urged his readers to think more, know yourself, decode the message of beauty, and reform society. By stating eloquently that music gives a soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, and a charm to sadness, he delineates the profound power music has on us as human beings (and animals too)!
