Augustine’s De Musica in the 21st Century Music Classroom
John MacInnis
Augustine’s De musica is all that remains of his ambitious plan to write a cycle works describing each the liberal arts in terms Christian faith and actually unfinished; whereas six books extant today primarily examine rhythm, Augustine intended about melody also. The sixth book was better known late Antiquity Middle Ages than first five, it takes up philosophical questions aesthetics related proportionate ordering discernable throughout creation. After brief introduction summarizing musica’s content its importance subsequent writings, my presentation outlines explains how I have used this document own music classes. For example, students learn vital notion Neoplatonism more broadly, spiritual benefit academic study. That is, through study music, one gains insight into created order, but, importantly, one’s soul strengthened trained perceive higher realities cosmos such as planetary spheres progression celestial hierarchies, which span distance from God humanity.
Religions|Dordt Digital Collections (Dordt College)