Kathleen Schlesinger. Part I. The Meeting with Rudolf Steiner

Kathleen Schlesinger
Part I. The Meeting with Rudolf Steiner
by Chrispian Villeneuve

The early life of Kathleen Schlesinger is here properly set out in English for the first time. The account runs from her birth in 1862, through her discovery in 1914 of the Ancient Greek musical system, up to her historic meeting with Rudolf Steiner at Dornach in the spring of 1921, evidenced in the letters she wrote to him during that year, which are translated into English. With illustrations throughout.

Review by Margaret Jonas for the Newsletter of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain:
These three A4 booklets present the work of Kathleen Schlesinger, a musician and musical journalist who rediscovered the ancient Greek modes and harmonics and related them to the planets, with her friend and collaborator Elsie Hamilton assisting her, especially in musical performance. Kathleen Schlesinger discussed her findings with Steiner and also sent him a replica of a Greek cithara as she believed in performing on ancient instruments where possible, and that the cithara was used for more serious occasions as opposed to the popular lyre. She lectured at the 1923 Penmaenmawr conference. The booklets contain a mixture of extracts from her writings, Steiner’s works on music and contemporary accounts of events, and are well illustrated.
Volume 3 is more technical and the significance is difficult to grasp for the non-expert. The historical details are rather a mixture but interesting. It is good to have her work made better known for those who can find it meaningful.

First published by Upper Esk Music
40 pages.
29.7 x 21 cms, 11¾ x 8¼ inches.
Stitched.