Edinburgh Medley

Author: Xian Dingchang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: This book is a collection of musical notes by a writer and a scientist. Countless writers have expressed their emotions and inspirations in describing music, even considering it a part of their works. Take Romain Rolland, for example; his novels are imbued with musical qualities, and the words dance with transparent yet vibrant musical hues. Less known, however, is that many scientists have similarly depicted music, believing that music, especially classical music, has influenced their creative choices. Kepler firmly believed that music was the harmonious echo of celestial movements, even composing his third law of planetary motion into sheet music. Einstein developed his intellectual dreams within the framework of musical harmony. Opening the biographies of many scientists, you will find it clearly stated: "He/She loves music and plays (an instrument)." Almost all outstanding Western philosophers have discussed the essence and beauty of the musical art world. A renowned science popularizer in China once asserted that there are few important scientists and philosophers in the world who do not love music. Many scholars have written books attempting to analyze the relationship between music and literature, music and mathematics, and music and physics, as if dissecting the structure of a symphony. Clearly, these relationships cannot be precisely depicted. This is the eternal mystery of music transcending language. Romain Rolland therefore wrote: "Music is an inspiration higher than all wisdom and all philosophy."