“God has given us music so that above all it can lead us upwards. Music unites
all qualities: it can exalt us, divert us, cheer us up, or break the hardest of
hearts with the softest of its melancholy tones. But its principal task is to
lead our thoughts to higher things, to elevate, even to make us tremble… The
musical art often speaks in sounds more penetrating than the words of poetry,
and takes hold of the most hidden crevices of the heart… Song elevates our
being and leads us to the good and the true. If, however, music serves only as
a diversion or as a kind of vain ostentation it is sinful and harmful” –
Friedrich Nietzche, autobiographical fragment, date unknown
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