Article March 12, 1955 Issue

"MUSIC IS THE HARMONY OF BEING"

BEULAH PACK

Music is the harmony of being: but the music of Soul affords the only strains that thrill the chords of feeling and awaken the heart's harpstrings." A study of this statement made by Mary Baker Eddy on page 106 of "Miscellaneous Writings" is very helpful to anyone desiring a clearer understanding of what constitutes the true standard of music. Considering the above definition, we see that divine Principle, God, governs every phase of the subject, and that true harmony in music includes a great deal more than the presence of agreeable sound. The "strains that thrill the chords of feeling'" are not produced by emotionalism but by awareness of, and sensitive response to, the presence and beauty of Soul.

The musician who, in selecting and performing music, constantly listens for God's voice will naturally express that which awakens the heart's desire. For music is in a way a language, and in its purest forms music hints the beauty, harmony, and rhythm of divine Mind. The language of music is often more expressive than the spoken word, since it speaks in melodic and harmonious sound of loveliness of thought. Spiritual sense gives depth to music and lifts it above the emptiness of mere material sound.

In the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy designates the kind and amount of music to be included in the services of all Churches of Christ, Scientist. (See Art. XIX, Sect. 1.) Selections for these services should be carefully chosen, preferably from the works of composers who have written from the standpoint of inspiration, often with the desire to glorify God. There is a wealth of lovely music available, needing only the application of sympathetic interpretation to reproduce it.

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