« Les planettes produisent quelque son » : musique et cosmologie dans le Traité de l’harmonie universelle de Marin Mersenne

Abstract

Harmony of the spheres is an important chapter in musical theory, as in Marin Mersenne. In the Traité de l’harmonie universelle (1627), the philosopher makes an inventory of the problem for pedagogical purposes. He examines different systems (Plato, Fludd, Kepler) and analyses their value. These theories are evaluated with the methods of modern science (analysis, deduction, critical doubt). In this article, we study the scientific issues of his presentation. We also analyse rhetorical structures of the discourse, and educational goals. Harmony of the spheres inspires in Mersenne a rich imagination, and gives poetic value to his writing.

Keywords

• Mersenne (Marin)
• Harmonie universelle
• cosmology
• philosophy
• theology
• science