Ancient scholars believed that the movement of celestial bodies produces harmonious music, called musica universalis or “music of the spheres.” This belief is alive and well and living in New York today—re-envisioned by a group of string players.
They call themselves the Music of the Spheres Society, and they will present a concert, “Flying Fingers,” Oct. 16 at the Christ & St. Stephen’s Church in New York City.
Founded in 2001 and inspired by the Neo-Platonic academies of 16th and 17th-century Italy, the goal of the society, as stated on its Web site, is to “promote classical music through innovative chamber music concerts and pre-concert lectures which illuminate music’s historical, philosophical, and scientific foundations, in order to give greater context for music to the average audience member.”
Stephanie Chase, one of the founders of the Music of the Spheres Society and its artistic director, shares details about the “Flying Fingers” concert. The program includes her own violin quintet renditions of virtuoso pieces by Pablo de Sarasate, Niccolo Paganini, and Manuel de Falla. It will also feature the world premiere of an arrangement of “Sonata in D Minor for Violin and Piano” by Johannes Brahms.
Before the concert there will be a short performance on one of the earliest known string instruments: the angular harp.
