In this brief lecture about music and harmony, Hazrat Inayat Khan speaks of ‘soul-made’ and ‘man-made’ music, and declares that the harmony of the world may only be found through the harmony of music.

In speaking on the harmony of music, I should like to say that true harmony of music comes from the harmony of the soul, and that music alone can be called real which comes from the harmony of the soul, its true source; and when it comes from there, it must appeal to all souls. Every soul differs in its choice in life, in its choice of the path it should follow. This is owing to the difference of mind, but in their essence souls do not differ. Therefore whatever means be chosen to bring the different minds of people together, there cannot be a better means to harmonize them than music. It would be no exaggeration if I said that music alone can be the means by which the souls of races, nations, and families which are today so apart may become one day united. Therefore the musician’s lesson in life is a great one. Music is expressed not by language, but by beauty of rhythm and tone reaching far beyond language. And the more the musician is conscious of his mission in life, the greater service can he do to humanity. 

The true use of music is to become musical in one’s thoughts, words, and actions.

Now as to the law of music which exists in different nations, there are of course differences of method, but in the conception of beauty there is no difference. The differences come when the music is man-made; there is no difference in the soul-made music. Suppose a man may come from the Far East, the extreme North, South, or West, but wherever he sees the beauty of nature, he cannot help admiring and loving it. And so a music lover, from whatever country he comes and whatever music he hears, if the music has soul and if the music lover seeks for the soul in the music, he will appreciate and admire all music. Furthermore, music has a mission not only with the multitudes, but with individuals. And its mission with the individual is as necessary and great as its mission with the multitude. 

All the trouble in the world, and all the disastrous results arising out of it, all come from lack of harmony. And this shows that the world needs harmony today more than ever before. So if the musician understands this, his customer is the whole world. When a person learns music, he need not necessarily learn to be a musician or to become a source of pleasure and joy to his fellow man; no, but by playing, loving, and hearing music, he must develop music in his personality. The true use of music is to become musical in one’s thoughts, words, and actions. We must be able to give the harmony for which the soul yearns and longs every moment. All the tragedy in the world, in the individual and in the multitude, comes from lack of harmony. And harmony is best given by producing harmony in one’s own life.

There are different kinds of music, each kind appealing to certain souls according to their evolution. For an instance, the children in the streets are very pleased by beating the time, because that rhythm has a certain effect upon them; but as a person evolves, so he longs for a finer harmony. Why people like or dislike each other is owing to their different stages of evolution. For instance, one is at a stage when he appreciates a certain kind of music; another person, whose evolution is greater, wants music appropriate to his evolution. So it is in religion: some stick to certain beliefs and do not wish to evolve beyond. So it is possible that the lover of music may be tempted to keep to a certain sort of music, and will not rise further. The true way of progressing through music is to evolve freely, to go forward, not caring what others think, and in this way, together with one’s development in music, to harmonize one’s soul life, one’s surroundings, and one’s affairs. 

During my travels throughout the world, I have heard the music of many different places, and always I have felt that intimate friendship and brotherhood existing in music; and I always had a great respect for music and for the devotee of music. And one thing I believe, and when in India, was convinced of it time after time in meeting those who have touched some perfection in music: that not only in their music, but in their life one can feel the harmony which is the real test of perfection. If this principle of music were followed, there would be no need for an external religion, and someday music will be the means of expressing universal religion. Time is wanted for this, but there will come a day when music and its philosophy will become the religion of humanity.