The first page of Mozart's manuscript for his Maurerische Trauermusik (Masonic Funeral Music) KV 479 (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin)
Masonic music has been defined as "music used in connection with the ritual and social functions of freemasonry."[1] Two major types of music used in masonic lodges are lodge songs, played to keyboard accompaniment before or after meetings, or during meals; and music written to accompany specific masonic ceremonies and events. Because the number 3 and the letter 'B' are of particular significance to freemasonry, music written in the keys of C minor or E flat major, which both involve 3 flats, (whose symbol '♭' resembles the lowercase letter 'b'), in their key signatures has been considered especially appropriate for masonic ceremonial music.[2]
The music written for masonic use by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is among the best-known of its kind. It includes the Maurerische Trauermusik (Masonic Funeral Music) and a number of songs and cantatas.[3] Mozart's opera The Magic Flute and his incidental music to Thamos, King of Egypt also have masonic connections.[4]
Lodges sometimes used the music of other composers for their proceedings (with or without permission) often adding different words. For example, in 1810, Ludwig van Beethoven, who is not documented as a mason, wrote to his friend the doctor Franz Wegeler: "I was told you were singing a song of mine in the Masonic Lodge... Send it to me, I am going to replace it and you won't be sorry." Wegeler himself published two masonic texts suggesting melodies of Beethoven (the Opferlied WoO 126 and the song Der freie Mann WoO 117) which could be used for them.[5]
Music especially composed for masonic rituals began to be published in the 18th century, including music written by Georg Benda, Ignaz Pleyel, François-André Danican Philidor, Johann Gottlieb Naumann, Johann Christian Friedrich Hæffner and Christian Gottlob Neefe. Anthems and other works for use in masonic lodges were written by, amongst others, in the 18th century William Boyce, in the 19th century Albert Lortzing, and in the 20th century Jean Sibelius.[6]
French composer André Gedalge wrote the anthem for the International Order of Freemasonry Le Droit Humain, with lyrics by his wife Amélie André-Gedalge, who was initiated at Lodge No. 1 of Le Droit Humain in 1907.[7][8]
Masonicmusic has been defined as "music used in connection with the ritual and social functions of freemasonry." Two major types of music used in masonic...
a Mason. The Masonic order played an important role in his life and work. Mozart was admitted as an Apprentice to the Viennese Masonic lodge called "Zur...
A Masonic lodge, often termed a private lodge or constituent lodge, is the basic organisational unit of Freemasonry. It is also commonly used as a term...
number of his friends were Masons, and on various occasions, he composed Masonicmusic, e.g. the Maurerische Trauermusik. Despite the great success of Die...
chamber music, violin concertos, and other concertos for one or more solo instruments, masses, and other religious music, organ music, masonicmusic, and...
Freemasonry, sometimes known as Blue Lodge Freemasonry, every Masonic lodge elects or appoints Masonic lodge officers to execute the necessary functions of the...
piano; incidental music for numerous plays; the one-act opera The Maiden in the Tower; chamber music, piano music, Masonic ritual music, and 21 publications...
York: Dodd, Mead. Hill, Cecil (1980). "Masonicmusic". In Stanley Sadie (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. 11. London: Macmillan...
The Maurerische Trauermusik (Masonic Funeral Music) in C minor, K. 477 (K. 479a), is an orchestral work composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1785 in...
79132; -122.41306 The SF Masonic Auditorium (originally the Grand Masonic Auditorium and formerly known as the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium) is a building...
opened Friedrich-Wilhelmstädtisches Theater. Lortzing also wrote music for masonic rituals. On 20 January 1851, the night his musical comedy Die Opernprobe...
There are a number of masonic manuscripts that are important in the study of the emergence of Freemasonry. Most numerous are the Old Charges or Constitutions...
Beethoven corresponded with him on the subject of Beethoven's music (not masonicmusic) being used in lodge ceremonies. Beethoven offered to compose a...
The Highland Park Masonic Temple, also known as The Mason Building or The Highlands, is a historic three-story brick building on Figueroa Street in the...
83.0601556°W / 42.3414194; -83.0601556 The Detroit Masonic Temple is the world's largest Masonic Temple. Located in the Cass Corridor of Detroit, Michigan...
The Royal Masonic School for Girls (RMS) is a private school in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England, with day and boarding pupils. The school was instituted...
next step involved independence from their Grand Lodge. By establishing masonic relations with the Union lodge in Frankfurt, affiliated to the Premier...
The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple (formerly the Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral) is a theatre and cultural center in Scranton...
Hollywood Masonic Temple, now known as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre and also formerly known as Masonic Convention Hall, is a building on Hollywood...
Hawthorne Theatre, formerly known as the Sunnyside Masonic Lodge, is an historic building and music venue located at the intersection of Southeast Hawthorne...
(officially called the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and sometimes known as Coachella Festival) is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire...
"Johann Gottlieb Naumann." * Hill, Cecil (1980). "Masonicmusic", in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie, vol. 11, 753–756...
unfinished. Gallery Music sheet of march "Across the Danube" Music sheet of march "Transit of Venus" Music sheet of march "El Capitan" Music sheet of march...
certainty of death. The legend of Hiram Abiff as related in Anglo-American Masonic jurisdictions underpins the Third Degree and first appeared in the early...
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