
“And oft with holy hymns he charm'd their ears, And music more melodious than the spheres.”
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 290.
“And oft with holy hymns he charm'd their ears, And music more melodious than the spheres.”
from the introduction to Music of the Spheres
Source: The Life Energy in Music, Vol. 1 (1981), p. 25
Music For All Of Us (1943); also quoted as "...Music can be all things to all persons... "
Context: I believe that music can be an inspirational force in all our lives — that its eloquence and the depth of its meaning are all-important, and that all personal considerations concerning musicians and the public are relatively unimportant — that music come from the heart and returns to the heart — that music is spontaneous, impulsive expression — that its range is without limit — that music is forever growing — that music can be one element to help us build a new conception of life in which the madness and cruelty of wars will be replaced by a simple understanding of the brotherhood of man.
Music can be all things to all men. It is like a great dynamic sun in the center of a solar system which sends out its rays and inspiration in every direction. … It is as if the heavens open and a divine voice calls. Something in our souls responds and understands. We are speaking here of the most inspired music.
Original: Ascoltate musica che scaldi il cuore, cercate melodie e incanti che regalino gioia ai vostri istanti.
Source: prevale.net
Elmer Gantry, paraphrasing the eloquence of the "atheist" Robert G. Ingersoll in his sermon.
Elmer Gantry (1927)
Context: His text was from Proverbs: "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."
He seized the sides of the pulpit with his powerful hands, glared at the congregation, decided to look benevolent after all, and exploded: "In the hustle and bustle of daily life I wonder how many of us stop to think that in all that is highest and best we are ruled not by even our most up-and-coming efforts but by Love? What is Love—the divine Love of which the—the great singer teaches us in Proverbs? It is the rainbow that comes after the dark cloud. It is the morning star and it is also the evening star, those being, as you all so well know, the brightest stars we know. It shines upon the cradle of the little one and when life has, alas, departed, to come no more, you find it still around the quiet tomb. What is it inspires all great men—be they preachers or patriots or great business men? What is it, my brethren, but Love? Ah, it fills the world with melody, with such sacred melodies as we have just indulged in together, for what is music? What, my friends, is music? Ah, what indeed is music but the voice of Love!"
Original: Per chi vive la musica con il cuore, è estremamente emozionante ascoltare ogni volta le magiche e dolci melodie del suono.
Source: prevale.net
Crabbed Age and Youth.
Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers (1881)