...then I had an obligation; there was a necessity to write on Music, and in writing on it, one does not lose one’s gravity. If the saints had not composed Music, the Church would lack the continuous service that it offers to its spouse, Christ, in singing the divine office. In imitation of the saints of the earth, and even those of heaven, anyone who is able should favor Music for divine worship.

On three types

of Music. Chapter 2.

Before we begin to treat Music, it is appropriate, following the doctrine of the philosopher: Usually a reference to Aristotle, though here Bermudo is applying the general scholastic method of defining terms before analysis., to know how many types of Music there are, and which of them we are to speak about. There is one Music, the scholars say, which is original: "mundana" cosmic; another which is human; and the third which is instrumental. The Latins took this division from Boethius the Roman. They do not take "cosmic music" in this division in the bad sense that some now use it; rather, in a good sense. This word is derived from "world" [the universe]. Thus, it is called cosmic Music because it is caused by the heavens, planets, and elements. How can it be, says Boethius (c. 480–524 AD) was the primary authority on music theory in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Boethius, that so swift a mechanism of the heavens and elements could have its turnings and movements in silence? A movement so swift and so regular cannot be made without a harmonic sound. Macrobius (c. 400 AD), a Roman provincial writer whose commentary on the "Dream of Scipio" discussed the music of the spheres. Macrobius says that from the revolution of the heavens, sound is necessarily inferred; and according to their greatness and speed, such sound will be very great, and the harmony very sweet. He says there is sound because bodies that move near us cause sound when they are large and moved with speed. The celestial bodies are large and moved with speed; therefore, they cause sound. Of the movement of the heaven that carries the planets with it, St. Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636 AD), author of the Etymologiae, an encyclopedia widely used in Spain. Isidore says it has such speed that if it were not held back by the planets, it would destroy the world. Of the greatness of the heavens, the philosophers say that the entire earth is but a point in comparison to them. That this sound is harmonic is proven by what the prince of Latin eloquence, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Cicero, says. He affirms that nature—which on one side is low and on the other high—when placed in due proportion, must by necessity make harmony when the extremes are joined. The heavens possess this; therefore, their sound will be harmonic.

Pliny was also of this opinion in the second book, chapter three; and Saint Isidore, book three, chapter sixteen, and other authors. Music, says Boethius, cannot be made without sound, nor sound without movement. In things that do not move, there is no Music; but in those that have actual movement, there can be. According to whether the movements are slow or fast, so is the sound and Music greater or lesser. Thus, as the movements of the heavens are some very fast and others slow, it follows that that Music is very high and great. How can the four elements be preserved, says Boethius, having diverse and contrary qualities, if they did not have among themselves a certain harmony and musical proportion? In order for the elements to exist in one mechanism and in one body without destroying each other, this Music was necessary in them. Because of this, the philosopher Dorylaus was a 1st-century BC philosopher and musician. Dorylaus came to say that the world was God's organ. Ludovicus Caelius Rhodiginus (1450–1525), an Italian humanist. Ludovicus Caelius is a witness to what has already been said. He who tunes a monochord: A scientific instrument consisting of a single string over a soundbox, used to demonstrate mathematical relationships between musical intervals., or some other stringed instrument, must neither tighten them so much that they break, nor leave them so loose that they make no Music. God has the monochord of the world so tuned and placed at the point of natural perfection that with it He makes for us the Music that we need. How uniform He keeps the heavens from the day He tuned them in His creation! Having remained tuned since creation, they have not slackened in any way. As they go through their revolutions, by day they give us light for work, and by night darkness for quiet and rest. The sun, moon, all the other planets, influences, and elements make a diversity of Music for us. Sometimes they give happy Music, other times sad; now of cold, now of heat. Just as the ears of the musician are recreated with a diversity of Music, so God wished to console us in this life with a diversity of natural things. Someone might say: if the heavens and elements have such great musical harmony, why do we not hear it? Boethius responds in the first book, chapter two, that if this sound does not reach our ears, it is necessarily so because of many things. In this place, Boethius does not state the reasons why it is appropriate not to hear this sound. It is commonly said that God provided that such sound not be heard by men because, if it were heard, it would corrupt and destroy human ears. This rea...