Cyril Scott (1879-1970) was an English composer, writer, and poet. The youngest student of his time accepted to The Hoch Conservatorium in Frankfurt, Germany, Scott was hailed at the beginning of the 20th century as the father of modern British music. He wrote several other books, including An Outline of Modern Occultism, The Great Awareness, and The Initiate trilogy.

The role of music in the evolution of humanity

• Reveals how a hierarchy of initiates, evolved spiritual intelligences, and devas actively influenced the musical compositions of geniuses to transmit great truths through music

• Explores the influence of the classical composers Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, Wagner, and Strauss--from Beethoven's influence on the creation of psychoanalysis to Chopin's musical influence on the emancipation of women

Composer and author Cyril Scott explores the role of music in the evolution of humanity and shows how it has pushed human evolution forward. He explains that music has a profound effect on history, morals, and culture and is a more potent force in the molding of character than religious creeds or moral philosophies. Whereas mediocre musicians reflect only their own times, inspired ones help determine the character of the future.

Exploring the works of classical composers such as Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Wagner, and Strauss, Scott reveals how their compositions were actively influenced by a hierarchy of initiates, evolved spiritual intelligences, and devas to make the way fertile for human spiritual evolution. Scott explains how humans are composed not only of a physical body, emotional body, and a mental body but also a sensation body that acts as the bridge between the physical realm and the hierarchy of initiates. Scott shows how the music of great composers affects not only those listening but also society as a whole--from Beethoven's influence on the creation of psychoanalysis to Chopin's musical influence on the emancipation of women.

Introduction by Desmond Scott

Part I
Preliminary
What Is Inspiration?

Preface

1 The Problem of Musicality
2 The Problems of Pure Music and Soloism
3 The Problems of Inspiration and Invention
4 Inspired and Uninspired Composers
5 The Esoteric Source of This Book
6 The Effects of Sound and Music

Part II
Biographical, Analytical, Aesthetical
The Influence of Genius on Daily Life

7 George Frederick Handel and the Victorian Era
8 Comparisons between the Influence of Handel and Bach
9 Beethoven, Sympathy and Psychoanalysis
10 The Mendelssohnian Sympathy
11 Frédéric Chopin, the Apostle of Refinement
12 Chopin, the Pre-Raphaelites and the Emancipation of Women
13 Robert Schumann and the Child-Nature
14 The Effects of Wagner's Music
15 Richard Strauss and Individualism

Part III
Esoteric Considerations
The Music of the Deva or Nature-Spirit Evolution

16 Musicians and the Higher Powers
17 The Occult Constitution of Man
18 César Franck, the Bridge between the Humans and the Devas
19 Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and Delius
20 Debussy and Ravel
21 Scriabin, a Deva-Exponent
22 The Ultra-Discordants and Their Effects
23 Moussorgsky and the Sublimation of Ugliness
24 Popular Music and Its Various Effects
25 Musicians and Their Subtler Bodies

Part IV
Historical
Melody and Harmony from Pre-Egyptian Times to Nineteenth-Century England

26 The Beginnings of Music and Religion
27 Effects of Music on the Indian People
28 The Music and Character of the Ancient Egyptians
29 The Greeks and Their Music
30 The Romans and Their Music
31 Effects of Descant and the Folk Song
32 Polyphony and Its Effects
33 Music and the Reformation
34 The Music of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
35 A Cursory View of Musical Effects in England from the Pre-Elizabethan Days to Those of Handel

Part V
Some Occult Prognostications
Toward Beauty and Mystery

36 The Music of the Future
Notes

Bibliography

Index