Absolute Music
Thus, even at an early time, the great thinkers of mankind sought to preserve
the purity of music.
The Egyptians, for example, adopted the view that only such music be tolerated which tames the passions, but not that which only stimulates the senses.
The great thinkers of the hellenic culture regarded melody and rhythm as the expression of ethical attitudes. Thus, they emphasized the nature-given task of music to create and guarantee the orderly, moral disposition of the soul. Therefore, music to them was the basis for successful cognition of truth, for education and for learning.
In our time, most ancient knowledge is breaking through, as new truths are coming to light in our scientific and technical day-to-day life, and it urges everyone of us to assume a clear attitude in shaping our world.
Just as one only sees the top of an iceberg – that part which is above the water – while the largest, heaviest part, the supporting base, lies hidden in the depths of the water, likewise in musical education only the tip, only the smallest part of the phenomenon of music has been presented to us. Up to now, the supporting foundation of the iceberg of music has generally remained invisible – hidden within the hearts of our great musical artists who have passed on the secret of music only to their equals. Therefore, the essence of music has been, and still remains, unknown and inaccessible to the masses of music consumers – but also to music lovers and even to practising musicians.
It is the purpose of this book to raise the entire iceberg of music to the water surface and to inspire every man, the music expert as well as the mighty music lover, to gain truthful insight into the unearthly abode of the Queen of Arts.
Therefore, all such information, which may be found in standard music books, was dismissed from this series of books, and only that aspect of music was considered which makes music immortal..