True knowledge, connection between man and universe, capable to modify human perception and behaviour. This is music!

In this section we will reflect on the importance which music has always had in the European culture since the ancient times, and then throughout  Medieval age and Renaissance.
Not only musicians or artists in general were interested in music, but also philosophers gave great importance to music and its many connections with other disciplines. Particularly, the connection between music and mathematics could sound quite strange to us, as well as the connection between music and philosophy, namely metaphysics and cosmology, seems a little hard to understand from a modern point of view.
The three authors we will take in consideration will help us to deepen and better understand these ideas. In their texts we will go trough the following main concepts:

- Boethius (5th – 6th  century AD), De institutione musica:
1. Music is a part of mathematical disciplines, however distinguished because of its connection with morality as well.
2. The real musician is the one who knows the theoretical content of his art, not the one who knows just how to play. Theoretical knowledge is above the practice, as the mind is above the body.

- Isidorus (6th-7th  century AD), De musica:
1. Music is the only real knowledge, connected with the structure of the universe itself. Without music no discipline can be complete.
2. Music has a great power over human mind as well: it can change the perception of reality and, therefore, can modify human behaviour.

- Johannes Tinctoris (15th-16th century), Complexus effectuum musices:
1. Music has many effects on human soul; the author takes in consideration twenty of them.
2. Most of the effects considered are closely connected with spirituality. Music helps human beings to elevate their souls and to get in contact with divine and spiritual dimension. 
Johannes’ considerations underline the important connection between music and religion in European music history. Many of the most famous pieces of music in European tradition are, in fact, pieces of sacred music.