In honour of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Theosophical Society in New York city, we've decided to look into the cultural influence of Theosophy since then, with posts on novelists, composers, painters, poets, films, and pop culture. Perhaps the names here are not as familiar as with the list of novelists, but I think that all of the musical selections included here have something interesting to offer, not that the list does not include some historically significant composers.
Looking for composers with some kind of specific connection or influence, this list was formed simply based on music that I enjoyed, special mention should go the the following composers, who probably are more deserving to be on the list for historical reasons:
Peter Warlock Adolphe Biarent Edward Elgar Edgar Varese John Cage Arthur Farwell (1872
–1952) Torkom Saraydarian. Gustav Mahler, he was connected with Anthroposophist conductor Bruno Walter, and Jean Sibelius once stayed at a Theosophists home for a week. In both cases, I felt that the Theosophical connections were not strong enough, unfortunately.
1- Marie
Jaëll (1846 – 1925)
Corresponded with Edouard Schuré and incorporated
holistic, spiritual and scientific perspectives in her writings on music theory
and education.
Danish composer took inspirations from Bruckner & Frank, especially after his own immersion in
theosophy, led him to creating series of large-scale autonomous works Fantasia
for Piano & Orchestra, Theosophical Ballet Artemis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sKd6TfzUGc&list=OLAK5uy_mZx7lYlio9Zx3ERNQDlhQcV-paf5iSUrQ
3- Granville Ransome Bantock (1868 –1946)
4- Alexander Scriabin (1871 –1915)
Read Blavatsky Although
scholars contest Scriabin's status as a theosophist, there is no denying that
he was a mystic, especially influenced by a range of Russian mystics and
spiritual thinkers, such as Solovyov and Berdyayev, both of whom Scriabin knew. making contact
with theosophists such as Jean Delville.
5- Gustav Holst (1874 –1934)
Studied
Sanskrit became friends with GRS Mead and Clifford Bax Theosophists. His famous
great success, The Planets, inspired by Theosophical astrologers such as Alan
Leo.
6- Cyril Scott (1879 –1970)
composer, writer, poet, &
occultist. 400 musical compositions concertos, symphonies, operas; wrote 20
pamphlets & books on occult & natural health incl. Music: Its Secret
Influence Throughout the Ages
7- John
Foulds (1880–1939)
travelled to India
in 1935 where, among other things, he collected folk music, composed pieces for traditional Indian instrument ensembles, and worked in radio and became
Director of All India Radio in Delhi in 1937. his wife Maud MacCarthy,
8- Arnold Bax (1883 –1953)
Associated with Yeats & Irish Literary Revival circle. Brother Arnold, a
Theosophist.
9- Agustín Barrios Mangoré (1885 –1944)
"In spite of a severe religious education, my
primitive pantheism has pointed me in the direction of Theosophy, the most
human and rational of philosophic concepts." http://cybozone.com/fg/jeong.html
10- Carlos Selzado (1885 –1961)
11- Kaikhosru Sorabji (1892 –1988)
12- Rued
Langgaard (1893 –1952)
https://seismograf.org/en/artikel/when-mysticism-loses-its-magic
Rued Langgaard’s father,
Siegfried Langgaard, was an advocate of this orientation, and more than 1000
handwritten pages (!) survive from his hand under the heading »On the Harmony
of the Arts in the World Symphony«. Rued himself was strongly influenced,
13- Dane Rudhyar (1895 – 1985)
Rudhyar
was a part of Theosphical scene near Krotona,
CA 1920-1930 with Stokowski, Ruth
Crawford-Seeger, Carlos Salzedo, Henry Cowell, Edgard Varese, Evangeline
Johnson
https://sfciviccenter.blogspot.com/2010/10/rudhyar-in-retrospect-1-seed-man_02.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isNTqhRVD-4&list=PLH01Hv6r5hzSljsCuDDGoGUmQYtgR5Ijj
14- William Grant Still (1895 – 1978)
Dean of African American Composers influenced
by Theosophy via music therapist Evelyn Benham-Bull (1897-1983) but was more of
a spiritualist. Symphony No.5 program notes here some seem to show Theosophical
influence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99k6u6r7O_w&list=OLAK5uy_lARpRCgvkIa-eS_lWVOcz0qEXCP_djC84
15- Henry Cowell (1897 – 1965)
One
of America's
most important and influential composers pioneer of world music
connected
with a funky SLO Cal Theosophy community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t8hba88puA
16-
Viktor Ullmann (1898 – 1944)
More Rudolf Steiner & Anthroposophy which is maybe half Theosophical, but
included because of Atlantis, even though it's mainly nominal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEapgzDdr0s
17-
Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901–1953)
American composer
& folk music specialist. Step-mother of Pete Seeger. piano lessons with
Djane Lavoie-Herz, sparked interest in theosophy & Scriabin, met Dane
Rudhyar & Henry Cowell
https://ca.toa.st/blogs/magazine/a-quiet-pioneer-composer-ruth-crawford-seeger-laura-barton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a97ugWCTDJQ&list=OLAK5uy_k6kZxDZQIHRuv8Oj-l2u7-WUiwdh5Cgz4&index=1
18-Walter Kaufmann (1907 – 1984)
fled Germany
before WW2-studied Indian music with Theosophists John Foulds and his wife,
violinist/proto-ethnomusicologist Maud McCarthy. moved to Canada, then US - composed
All-India radio theme
https://escholarship.org/content/qt3p7007z3/qt3p7007z3_noSplash_c0d3bd90782018cff296b77fb7d34cb0.pdf
19-
Alan Hovhaness (1911 –2000)
20- Wayne Shorter (1933 –
2023)
American Nichiren
Buddhist, chosen for The All Seeing Eye, Atlantis album titles, importance of
Cyril Scott's writings for John Coltrane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45rOTojN6Es&list=PLQH12G4s2fZc0dKvA8-qQwGec7KgsoJE4
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