The soul of the universe was joined together according to musical concord. For when we hear what is properly and harmoniously united in sound in conjunction with what is harmoniously coupled and joined together within us and are attracted to it, then we recognize that we ourselves are put together in its likeness. For likeness attracts, whereas unlikeness disgusts and repels. Whoever penetrates into his own self perceives human music. When an opera star sings her head off, she usually improves her appearance.
Music is . . .
One can't judge Wagner's opera 'Lohengrin' after a first hearing, and I certainly don't intend hearing it a second time. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature, and everlasting beauty of monotony. Here is the iron fence which separates the earthly from the eternal. Here there is no end to the astonishments, and yet from the beginning we feel it is homelike.