harmonies of heaven and earthby joscelyn godwin

Leonardo

Harmonies of Heaven and Earth by Joscelyn GodwinLeonardo, Vol. 21, No. 2 (1988), p. 218Published by: The MIT PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1578582 .

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3. Ern6 Lendvai, Bartok stilusa [Bartok Style] (Budapest: Zenemiikiad6, 1955) pp. 12-14.

4. Howat [1] p. 74. 5. Lendvai [3] pp. 12-13. 6. Erno Lendvai, Bela Bart6k: An Analysis

of His Music (London: Kahn & Averill, 1971) p. 21; The Workshop of Bart6k and Koddly (Budapest: Editio Musica) p. 39.

7. Lendvai (1971) [6] p. 21. 8. Lendvai [2] p. 256. See also Matila C.

Ghyka, Le nombre d'or (Paris: Gallimard, 1959; reprinted 1985) p. 1-69, n. 2.

9. Howat [1] pp. 70-71. 10. See, for example, Laszl6 Somfai, "Manu-

script versus Urtext: The Primary Sources of Bart6k's Works", Studia musicologica 23, 34 (1981); Laszl6 Somfai, "Bela Bart6k", chapters 6-9 in The New Grove Modern Masters (London: Macmillan, 1984) p. 68; Howat [1] pp. 84-90; Roy Howat, Debussy in Proportion: A Musical Analysis (Cambridge: Cambridge Uni- versity Press, 1983) pp. 9, 15, 187; as well as the exchange Laszl6 Somfai, "Com- mentary" to Facsimile Edition of Bela Bartok's "Sonata" (1926) [for piano] (Budapest: Editio Musica, 1980); Erno Lendvai, "Aranymetsz6s?" [Golden Section?], Muzsika (Budapest) 24, No. 2, 45-46 (1981); Laszl6 Somfai, "Valasz aranymetszes iigyben" [Reply re: Golden Section], Muzsika 24, No. 3, 31-32 (1981); Erno Lendvai, "Valasz Bart6k-Szonata iigyben" [Reply re: Bartok Sonata], Muzsika 24, No. 4, 43-45 (1981).

11. For example, see its influence on Marius Cleyet-Michaud, Le nombre d'or [Que sais-je?, 1530] (Paris: Presses Univer- sitaires de France, 1985) p. 94.

INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL PRINT EXHIBIT by the Council for Cultural Planning and Development, Republic of China. Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., 1985. 366 pp., illus. Paper.

Reviewed by Sean O'Driscoll, Irish Inter- national Arts Centre, Castle Matrix, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

This monumental illustrated book re- produces in full colour the prints of over 500 artists from around the world, selected from 3843 works submitted by 1503 print artists of 58 countries. The excellent reproductions, covering all types of graphic media, place this catalogue in a class by itself. This is Taiwan's second such exhibit and the success has been overwhelming; it has sparked a revival of printmaking in the













































































This monumental illustrated book re- produces in full colour the prints of over 500 artists from around the world, selected from 3843 works submitted by 1503 print artists of 58 countries. The excellent reproductions, covering all types of graphic media, place this catalogue in a class by itself. This is Taiwan's second such exhibit and the success has been overwhelming; it has sparked a revival of printmaking in the Republic of China as well as stirred interest overseas. The response was so encouraging that the council has decided to make this a biennial event.

Republic of China as well as stirred interest overseas. The response was so encouraging that the council has decided to make this a biennial event.







Short Reviews SCHOENBERG AND THE NEW MUSIC by Carl Dahlhaus. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 1987. 314 pp., illus. Cloth, ?30.00, $44.50. ISBN: 0-521-33251-6.

'New Music' was a cultural movement active during the first two decades of this century. It embraced many of the seminal composers of the day: Scriabin, Schreker, Webern, Schoenberg. Their influence on music and aesthetics is still felt today. This collection of essays by a leading German musicologist considers Schoen- berg as a historical figure, a radical theoretician and a controversial com- poser. There are also essays of a wider cultural and sociological significance, which, together with the historical and analytical sections, should interest all those involved in twentieth-century music and ideas.

THE HISTORY OF SCIENTIFIC DIS- COVERY Jack Meadows, ed. Phaidon Press, Oxford, U.K., 1987. 256 pp., illus. Cloth, ?19.95. ISBN: 0-7148-2528-X.

Subtitled "The story of science told igh the lives of twelve great

scientists", this is a lush coffee-table book that nevertheless has a readable and accurate text magnificently supplemented by well-chosen and excellently reproduced illustrations. The graphics depicting the 'life, work and times' of each of the scientists are particularly well done. The 12 scientists considered are Aristotle, Galileo, William Harvey, Isaac Newton, Antoine Lavoisier, Alexander von Humboldt, Michael Faraday, Charles Darwin, Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein. A good index rounds off this recommended quick-reference guide.

THE SEVEN SKETCHBOOKS OF VINCENT VAN GOGH by Johannes van der Wolk. Thames and Hudson, London, U.K., 1987. 320 pp., illus. Cloth, ?30.00. ISBN: 0-500-09182-X.

It is a rare and intimate privilege to be allowed to watch an artist at work. This facsimile edition of Van Gogh's sketchbooks provides us with just such an opportunity. Led by the author's ex-

















































It is a rare and intimate privilege to be allowed to watch an artist at work. This facsimile edition of Van Gogh's sketchbooks provides us with just such an opportunity. Led by the author's ex- planatory text, we can follow the development of some of Van Gogh's greatest paintings, from their tentative beginnings in the sketchbooks through to the finished works. Indeed, such was the genius and inventiveness of Van Gogh

planatory text, we can follow the development of some of Van Gogh's greatest paintings, from their tentative beginnings in the sketchbooks through to the finished works. Indeed, such was the genius and inventiveness of Van Gogh







that many of the initial sketches appear as finished and complete in themselves. A fascinating introduction details the methods used to reconstruct the damaged sketchbooks.

THE TRIUMPH OF LIGHT AND NATURE by Neil Kent. Thames and Hudson, London, U.K., 1987.240 pp., illus. Cloth, ?20.00. ISBN: 0-500-23491-4.

Subtitled "Nordic Art 1740-1940", this soundly researched volume presents the achievements of Nordic artists, con- centrating on the nineteenth century. Through a wealth of illustrations and a succinct text, both the grandeur and the stark simplicity of this hitherto little- known art are revealed and examined. There are a few familiar names-Prince Eugen, Munch, Christian Krohg-but most of the artists are unknown outside their native lands; this is thus a welcome and pleasing addition to the annals of art history.

HARMONIES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH by Joscelyn Godwin. Thames and Hudson, London, U.K., 1987. 208 pp., illus. Cloth, ?14.00. ISBN: 0-500-01403-5.

Music has a force, a 'something', that nearly everyone can feel. What is it that gives music this power? What lies beneath its surface? In trying to provide answers to these fundamental questions, Joscelyn Godwin forges a powerful synthesis of music and magic. The author examines first music's perceived effect on living matter; then turns attention to the higher worlds, "the birthplace of Harmony"; descends again to Earth and examines some archetypal currents in Western music; and, finally, presents a complete overview of the theories of celestial harmony.

CRITICISM by Hans Keller. Faber & Faber, London, U.K., 1987. 176 pp. Paper, ?4.95. ISBN: 0-571-14803-4.

Written in a down-to-earth, almost jocular style, this engaging extended essay 'attacks' all those who practise what Hans Keller describes as 'phoney pro- fessions'. These include 'the critic', 'the musicologist', 'the politician', 'the

















































Written in a down-to-earth, almost jocular style, this engaging extended essay 'attacks' all those who practise what Hans Keller describes as 'phoney pro- fessions'. These include 'the critic', 'the musicologist', 'the politician', 'the psychoanalyst', 'the conductor', 'the editor' and many others. By a neat irony, the author was himself active in many of these fields. Although his ideas may appear outlandish at first, on reflection they are all incisively apposite.

psychoanalyst', 'the conductor', 'the editor' and many others. By a neat irony, the author was himself active in many of these fields. Although his ideas may appear outlandish at first, on reflection they are all incisively apposite.







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harmonies of heaven and earthby joscelyn godwin

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