Current Research Project by Johann F.W. Hasler

 

Thesis proposed title: "Towards a Hermetic Music: A Proposal for Systems of Composition Based on the Principles of the Hermetic Tradition, with Musical Demonstrations".

Targeted submission date: September 2007.

Main disciplines it falls into: Historical and theoretical musicology and music composition, influence of Western esotericism in art music and its theory.

Institutional affiliation: International Centre for Music Studies, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK)

Abstract:

The relationship between Hermeticism and the theory and compositional practice of Western art music has been extensively researched by Joscelyn Godwin, Gary Tomlinson, Penelope Gouk and others. In the first part of my thesis I will comment on this research and bring its results together, presenting it through a set of charts and tables which reviews the proposed inclusion of musical parameters such as pitch, rhythm, instrumental colour, metre and tempo in the Hermetic correspondence theory.

There are though, several inconsistencies, misunderstandings and omissions in the work of historical figures working from Hermeticism into music theory and vice-versa. The second part of my thesis seeks to comment on these, and proposes their clarification whenever possible and desirable, grounded on the perspective of Hermeticism as a living tradition which is currently worked and researched on by practicing Hermeticists such as alchemists, cabalists and magicians. Based on current consensus generally accepted by this living form of contemporary Hermeticism, I propose the filling-in and updating of these lacunae, and put forward musical proposals for the completion of the project of including musical parameters in the Hermetic doctrine of correspondences.

The third part of my thesis is a commented portfolio of original musical compositions in which I have applied the ideas and proposals of some authors which I have reviewed in part I, as well as my own proposals as expressed in part II. This amounts to the practical demonstration of the application of the proposed musical correspondences and Hermetic principles to sounding pieces of music, and constitutes my contribution to this issue form the artistic and intellectual practice of a composer/theorist.

Johann F.W. Hasler
Doctoral candidate
International Centre for Music Studies
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK)

Click here to read Johann F.W. Hasler's online article on 'Planetary Attributions of Plants'

 

If you have any ideas or interests in relation to this project please contact Johann F.W. Hasler by e-mailing us at contact@h-e-r-m-e-s.org

Thank you for your interest.

 

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