Interview with Professor Owen Wright

Publication: On Music - An Arabic Critical Edition and English Translation of Epistle 5
Editor & Translator: Professor Owen Wright

Questions addressed in the interview:

1. How does the epistle ‘On Music’ fit into the overall framework of the Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’? (0:10)

2. What were the particular linguistic challenges associated with the manuscripts you worked with? (3:00)

3. Do the musical concepts and technical language lend themselves easily to English or is there much that is specific to the time, culture and language? (5:44)

4. What do the Ikhwan al Safa’ consider to be the psychological applications of music? (8:55)

5. In what way do the Ikhwan relate music to spirituality? (11:25)

6. It has been said that the Ikhwan are not very conceptually innovative. What are the features of this text that make it unique? (15:43)

7. How do you view the Rasa’il’s contribution more broadly to the arts and sciences? (19:09)