This symphony is drawn from an opera about Johannes Kepler, the great astronomer who deduced the laws of orbital motion. Kepler was looking for the exact, perfect geometrical forms—circles, squares, equilateral triangles, and the like, that he believed must describe planetary motion. He called concept "The Harmony of the Universe, " (in German, Harmonie der Welt). Ironically, he discovered that there are no such relationships concerning spacing of the planets, and also that they move not in circular but in elliptical orbits, and not even at constant speeds. The symphony has three movements, "Machine Music, " "Human Music, " and "World Music." The three movements progressively seek to illuminate higher and higher spheres of musical/astrological imagery and musical purity. The music itself is high-minded and seeks to be free from human passions (except the passion for enlightenment), and seems at times to glow with an inner radiance.

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