For What Purpose Music Should Be Learned

Introduction

Since it has been said above that a well-educated man ought not to be without Music, therefore wishing to learn it, before we go any further I want us to see what end he should propose to himself — since there have been diverse opinions about this. Which seen, we will also consider the usefulness that comes from Music, and in what manner we ought to use it.

The Vulgar Approach to Music

Beginning then with the first, I say that there have been some who have held the opinion that Music should be learned in order to give recreation and delight to the hearing, for no other reason than to make this sense perfect, in the way that sight becomes perfect when with delight and pleasure it looks upon something beautiful and well-proportioned. But in truth it should not be learned for this purpose, because this is a thing for the vulgar and for mechanics — since these things have in themselves no part of virtue (although in calming the soul they have something of the delightful), and are things for coarse men who seek nothing but to satisfy the senses, and attend to this end alone.

The Liberal Approach to Music

Others then wanted it to be learned for no other purpose than because it was placed among the liberal disciplines, in which only nobles exercised themselves; and because it disposes the soul to virtue and regulates its passions, accustoming it to rejoice and to grieve virtuously, disposing it to good customs — not unlike what Gymnastics does for the body to some good disposition and habit; and also in order to be able by such means to arrive at the speculation of various kinds of harmony, since through it the intellect knows the nature of musical consonances.

The True Purpose of Music

And although this purpose has something of the honest, it is still not sufficient — for he who learns Music not only learns it to acquire the perfection of the intellect, but to be able, when he ceases from cares and affairs both of the body and of the soul (that is, when he is at leisure and free from daily occupations), to pass the time and entertain himself virtuously; so that, living rightly and praiseworthily far from idleness, through such means he may become prudent, and then pass on to do better and more praiseworthy things. Which purpose is not only worthy of praise and honest, but is the true purpose — because Music was not invented, nor ordained for any other end, than that which we have shown above; as the Philosopher manifests in his Politics, adducing and relating many authorities of Homer.

Therefore deservedly the ancients placed it in the order of those pastimes which served for free men, and among the praiseworthy disciplines — and not among the necessary ones, such as Arithmetic; nor even among the useful ones, as are some which are for the acquisition only of external goods, which are money and the welfare of the family; nor among those others which serve for the health of the body and for strength, like Gymnastics, which is an art pertaining to things that help to make the body healthy and strong, such as wrestling, throwing the javelin, and other things which pertain to the exercise of war.

One should therefore learn Music not as necessary, but as liberal and honest; so that through its means we might arrive at a good and virtuous habit which leads us on the path of good customs, making us advance toward other more useful and more necessary sciences, and causing us to pass the time virtuously. And this should be the principal, or ultimate intention, as we wish to call it. But in what way it has the power to induce new customs and to move the soul to diverse passions, we will discuss in another place.