Music of the spheres

DEFINITION

An ancient doctrine originating with the Greeks or possibly the Hebrews and referred to throughout the Middle Ages that implies that the universe and everything in it is in harmony. The doctrine states that each planet has its own sphere in which it moves across the sky, and that the spheres rub together producing music. The belief extended to the world below, using the heavenly spheres as an example of order and harmony that should exist on the earth.