What is "music of the spheres"

Sphere \Sphere\, n. [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sph[`e]re, L. sphaera,. Gr. ??? a sphere, a ball.]

1. (Geom.) A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center.

2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.

   Of celestial bodies, first the sun, A mighty sphere, he framed.
   --Milton.

3. (Astron.)

   1. The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places, and on which the various astronomical circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it.

   2. In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were supposed to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a manner as to produce their apparent motions.

4. (Logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.

5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence.

   To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in 't.
   --Shak.

   Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.
   --Hawthorne.

   Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe Our hermit spirits dwell.
   --Keble.

6. Rank; order of society; social positions.

7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.]
   --Shak.

   Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,. See under Armillary, Crystalline,.

   Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth, and the right ascension and declination, altitude and azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies; spherical geometry.

   Music of the spheres. See under Music.

   Syn: Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.

Music \Mu"sic\, n. [F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. ? (sc. ?), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. ? belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. ? Muse.]

1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i. e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear.

   Note: Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no other sounds. See Tone.

2. 1. Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones.

   2. Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones.

3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score.

4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music.

   The man that hath no music in himself Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
   --Shak.

5. (Zo["o]l.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation.

   Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes.
   --Tennyson.

   Music box. See Musical box, under Musical.

   Music hall, a place for public musical entertainments.

   Music loft, a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church.

   Music of the spheres, the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres.

   Music paper, paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists.

   Music pen, a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff.

   Music shell (Zo["o]l.), a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell ( Voluta musica) found in the East Indies; -- so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked.

   To face the music, to meet any disagreeable necessity, such as a reprimand for an error or misdeed, without flinching.

n. an inaudible music that Pythagoras thought was produced by the celestial

"Music of the Spheres" is an episode of The Outer Limits. It first aired on 9 May 1997, during the third season.

Music of the Spheres or Musica universalis is an ancient philosophical concept that regards proportions in the movements of celestial bodies as a form of music.

Music of the Spheres may also refer to:

Music of the Spheres is an album by English musician Mike Oldfield, released in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2008. The album, Oldfield's second album with Mercury Records and his first classical work, is based on the concept of a celestial Musica universalis.

The album features New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra (on "On My Heart") and Chinese pianist Lang Lang on six tracks.

Music of the Spheres was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2009.

Music of the Spheres is a composition by Rued Langgaard, written in 1916–18 and scored for orchestra, choir, organ, a "distant" orchestra, and a soprano soloist.

The work incorporates radical innovations, considered ahead of their time, including some of the earliest examples of string piano (playing directly on the strings of the piano), and Langgaard's extensive use of slow moving string clusters prompted the composer György Ligeti to proclaim himself a "Langgaard-epigone" when presented with the score in the late 1960s.

Music of the Spheres is the 3rd solo album released by Ian Brown, the ex- frontman of The Stone Roses. It is noted for its minimalist song structures with tracks like "Hear No See No" and "El mundo pequeño", sung in Spanish.

Highlights on this album include "F.E.A.R.", where the first letters of each word in a stanza spell out the song title. For example, "For each a road" and "Fallen empires are running". Other standout tracks include "Stardust" and "Northern Lights". The Song Whispers won Muso's 2002 award for Best Single. The Canadian edition of the album omits Track 5, "Hear No See No".

"Music of the Spheres" is a mini-episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in London before the Intermission of the Doctor Who Prom on 27 July 2008, for which it was especially made. The Doctor Who Prom, including the audio for "Music of the Spheres", was broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio 3. "Music of the Spheres" was shown on the official BBC Doctor Who website during the interval and the concert itself was filmed for later broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2009.

The episode has live and pre-recorded components: the pre-recorded component takes place in the TARDIS; the live component is the Doctor Who Prom which took place during the episode's first transmission. Consequently, a major component of the episode is that it breaks the fourth wall: the Doctor ( David Tennant) "converses" with the audience and conducts the orchestra to perform his symphony Ode to the Universe. He is antagonised by the Graske ( Jimmy Vee), who intends to cause mischief at the Prom.