Cosmic Songs
The Music of Nature Spirits and Devas (Angels)
© 2017 Kurt Leland
Nature Spirits and Devas
l Any semiconscious or conscious nonhuman being or natural energy manifesting on the etheric or astral planes
l A similar entity on higher planes is a deva(“shining one”—i.e., angel)• Powys Hoult, A Dictionary of Some
Theosophical Terms (1910)
Hierarchy of Spiritual Beings 1
l Elementals• Gnomes (earth)• Undines (water)• Salamanders (fire)• Sylphs (air/individualized/lower astral)
l Fairies• Water• Land (etheric)• Cloud (higher etheric)
Hierarchy of Spiritual Beings 2
l Devas (angels)• Kama (astral)• Rupa (lower mental)• Arupa (upper mental)
l Dhyani chohans (archangels)• Buddhic• Nirvanic
Geoffrey Hodson (1886-1983)l British Theosophistl Clairvoyant investigator of
devas and musicl Fairies at Work and at Play
(1925)l The Kingdom of
Faerie (1927)l The Kingdom of the
Gods (1952) l Clairvoyant Investigations
(1984)
Janet Melanie Ailsa Mills(H. K. Challoner; 1894-1987)
l British Theosophistl Watchers [Regents] of
the Seven Spheres (1933)
l The Wheel of Rebirth: An Autobiography of Many Lifetimes (1934)
Cyril Scott (1879-1970)
l British Theosophistl Pianist/Composerl Author of Music: Its
Secret Influence throughout the Ages
Characteristics of Devas
l No human passions or sorrowsl No moral sensel Express joie de vivre and love
• Cyril Scott, Music: Its Secret Influence throughout the Ages (1933; 1958)
Characteristics of Nature Spirits
l Delight in• Song and dance• Reveries in nature• The play of sunlight and moonbeams• Playing pranks• Idly shaping clouds• Transforming themselves into various shapes
l Childlike naivete• Cyril Scott, Music: Its Secret Influence
Deva music is
l Enchantingly indefinitel Between the notesl Varied, yet charmingly monotonousl Subdued, delicate, nebulousl As if improvised
• Cyril Scott, Music: Its Secret Influence
Higher deva realm music
Portrays “that Love which is God, the Divine Love,
what in certain schools of occultism is called the Buddhic [plane].”• Cyril Scott, Music: Its Secret Influence
John Foulds (1880-1939)
l British Theosophistl Cellist/Composerl Author of Music
Today (1934)
Maud MacCarthy (1882-1967)
l Irish Theosophistl Child-prodigy violinistl Friend of Annie Besantl Indian music specialistl Theosophical music
conservatoryl Early sound healerl Swami Omananda Puri
Composers may
l Depict devas or deva realmsl Place the listener en rapport with devas
or deva realms (touching their state of consciousness)
l Transcribe the music of devas and deva realms (embody their consciousness)• John Foulds, Music Today (1934)
Performers may
Ensoul the thought form behind a piece of music with deva consciousness• John Foulds, Music Today
Depicting devas and devarealms 1 (nature spirits)
l Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
l Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, op. 46
l 4. “In the Hall of the Mountain King”
l 1888
Depicting devas and devarealms 2 (nature spirits)
l Gabriel Pierné(1863-1937)
l “School of the Fauns”
l Cydalise et le chévre-pied (ballet)
l 1914-1915
Depicting devas and devarealms 3 (nature spirits)
l Cyril Scottl Bumble-beesl 1928
Placing listeners en rapport with devas and deva realms 1
l Edward MacDowell (1860-1908)
l “Monologue”l Six Poems after
Heine, op. 31, no. 6l 1887; rev. 1898
Placing listeners en rapport with devas and deva realms 2
l John Fouldsl Ghandarva-Music,
op. 49, for pianol 1915-26
Transcribing/embodying music of devas and deva realms 1
l Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
l String Quintet in C Major, D. 956
l 1. Allegro ma non troppo
l 1828
Transcribing/embodying music of devas and deva realms 2
l John Fouldsl Three Mantras from
Avatara, op. 61bl 2. “Mantra of Bliss
and Vision of Celes-tial Avataras”
l 1920s
Transcribing/embodying music of devas and deva realms 3
l Einojuhani Rauta-vaara (1928-2016)
l Symphony No. 7 (“Angel of Light”)
l 3. Come un sognol 1994
Deva-ensouled music 1
l Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
l Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, BWV 1051
l 3. Adagio ma non tantol 1721
• Max Pommer/NeuesBachisches CollegiumMusicum Leipzig
Deva-ensouled music 2
l Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
l Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, BWV 1051
l 3. Adagio ma non tantol 1721
• Helmut Rilling/Oregon Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra