musica mundana
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Boethius wrote several books. The Consolation of Philosophy was his most famous work. He also translated some ancient Greek works: Topicis Differentiis and De Arithmetica, and De Institutione Musica,
Boethius
Boethius
For Boethius, the highest form of music was musica mundana, the macrocosmic harmony of the universe contained in the motions of the stars and planets and the rhythmic progression of the seasons. Equivalent terms are musica universalis and music of the spheres.Inferior to this was musica humana, the microcosmic harmony contained in the proportions of the human body and soul, including the four temperaments, or personality types, resulting from the relative disposition of the four humors.The lowest type of music for Boethius was musica instrumentalis, the audible harmonies produced by instruments and human voices.
Boethius died in 524.
boethius