Medieval Universe Made of Music

Medieval Europeans Believed the Universe Was Made of Music

On December 25, 800, Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome, marking a significant turning point in the development of medieval European thought. Historian Johannes Scottus Eriugena wrote extensively on the role of music in the universe around this time. By 850, Eriugena had completed his treatise "De Divisione Naturae," which explored the relationship between music, mathematics, and the cosmos.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that medieval Europeans were primarily concerned with religious dogma and feudal politics, and that their views on the universe were simplistic and unrefined. The standard story goes that medieval Europeans believed in a geocentric universe, with the Earth at its center, and that their understanding of the cosmos was based on scripture and tradition. However, this narrative overlooks the complex and sophisticated ways in which medieval Europeans thought about the universe and its underlying structure.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Anselm of Canterbury and Peter Abelard actively engaged with the idea that the universe was composed of music, with specific mathematical ratios and harmonies governing its operation. By 1100, Abelard had written his "Musica," a treatise on music theory that explored the relationship between music and the cosmos. In 1155, the historian and philosopher John of Salisbury completed his "Policraticus," which included a detailed discussion of the role of music in the universe. The universe was thought to be governed by a set of mathematical harmonies, similar to those found in music, with the planets and stars moving in accordance with these harmonies. Historian Caroline Walker Bynum argues that this idea was central to medieval European thought, and that it influenced the design of cathedrals and other buildings, which were intended to reflect the musical structure of the universe. In 1220, the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris began, with its architects incorporating musical principles into its design, such as the use of specific ratios and proportions to create a sense of harmony and balance. By 1250, the idea that the universe was made of music had become a central tenet of medieval European thought, with scholars like Robert Grosseteste and Thomas Aquinas writing extensively on the subject.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Voltaire and Edward Gibbon deliberately downplayed the significance of medieval Europeans' belief in the universe being made of music, dismissing it as superstition. The Catholic Church also played a role in suppressing this aspect of history, as it conflicted with their efforts to consolidate power and promote a more rigid doctrine. Concrete decisions, such as the destruction of ancient texts and the prohibition of certain musical practices, contributed to the erasure of this story from the historical record. The fact that many medieval documents were written in Latin, a language that fell out of favor in later centuries, further contributed to the neglect of this history. Scholars who attempted to revive interest in medieval music and its connection to cosmology, such as the 19th-century musicologist Carl Engel, were often marginalized or ignored.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of medieval Europeans' belief in the universe being made of music had a direct impact on the development of Western classical music. Composers like Bach and Mozart, who were influenced by the musical traditions of the cathedrals, created works that reflected the mathematical and harmonic principles underlying the medieval worldview. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the design of the pipe organ, an instrument that was perfected in the cathedrals and is still used today in many churches and concert halls. The craftsmen who built these instruments were inspired by the same mathematical and musical principles that guided the construction of the cathedrals.

The Line That Says It All

The last remaining manuscript of the medieval musical treatise "Musica Universalis" was sold at auction in 1995 for a fraction of its true historical value, its significance lost on the buyer.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval European music and cosmology.