Editorial Reviews Having been trained as a classical musician, he was surprised to learn that both Mozart & Beethoven had composed for an instrument he’d never heard of until then: the glass armonica. Intrigued by its unusual history (it was invented by Benjamin Franklin), he commissioned one to be custom built in 1996. He fell in love with its sound, and since then has been performing and composing exclusively for the glass armonica. To date he has produced five CDs of original music written for it. For those interested in the rich history of this instrument, more information can be found on William’s web site. The original concept of the "Music of the Spheres" is credited to Pythagoras (c.569-475 BC), a musical-mathematical-mystic, but its first surviving written account appears in Plato (c.427-347 BC). At the end of his Republic, Plato gives a tour of the afterlife and a view of the planetary spheres. But for Plato they aren't true spheres, they are giant "hemispheres", nested inside of each other with just the rims exposed, all rotating on a spindle of light. A Siren is assigned to each rim, singing a single note. In short, in Plato's view, the Cosmos is an enormous glass armonica in the sky! If Plato's Sirens had merely touched the hemispheres' rims with moistened fingers instead of singing, we'd be crediting Plato with the invention of the glass armonica instead of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). Composed for glass armonica and accompanied by harp, wine glass chorus, and gentle percussion.
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About the Artist
William Wilde Zeitler has been a professional pianist and composer for over twenty years, with a degree in music from the California Institute of the Arts. His media credits include NPR, PBS, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and many radio & television appearances across the country. He has worked with a wide variety of orchestras and ensembles, and appears on the sound track to the motion picture The Wooly Boys, starring Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson.
Album Description
These twelve pieces were inspired by the ancient Pythagorean conception of the Universe. This musical journey begins at Earth, and travels through the planets to the Great Beyond; passionate and mystical, reveling in the wonders of the Cosmos. "Music of the Spheres" incorporates a wealth of musical symbolism based on almost a year of William's research into ancient through modern astronomy and astrology. The fundamental concept of the album is to portray the soul's final journey from life on Earth, ascending through the planetary spheres to the Afterlife.