Dane Rudhyar

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Dane Rudhyar

Dane Rudhyar was a French-American composer, writer, artist, and astrologer.

Personal life

Dane Rudhyar was born in Paris on March 23, 1895 under the name Daniel Chennevière. The maiden name of his mother was Bajaud, but little else is known of his early childhood.

At age twelve, a severe illness and surgery disabled him and he turned to music and intellectual development to compensate for his lack of physical agility. He studied at the Sorbonne, University of Paris (graduating at age 16) and at the Paris Conservatoire. His early ventures into philosophy and association with the artistic community in Paris led to his conviction that all existence is cyclical in character.

His music led him to New York City in 1916, where he composed some of the first polytonal music performed in the United States. He also met Sasaki Roshi, one of the early Japanese Zen teachers in America, who led him in the study of Oriental philosophy and occultism. His interest was further stimulated by his association with Theosophy, which began when he was asked to compose music for a production at the society's headquarters in Los Angeles in 1920.

He stayed on in California. In June 9, 1930 he married Malya Contento, a well-educated Italian immigrant who worked as secretary to independent Theosophist Will Levington Comfort. Comfort, a writer whose novels were produced in films, was acquainted with screenwriter Marc Edmund Jones, and introduced Rudhyar to him. Jones became his mentor in the study of astrology.

Rudhyar married five times altogether. After his 1945 divorce from Malya, he wed Eya Fechin (m. 1945-1954); Gail Tana Whithall (m. 1964-1976), whom he assisted with immigration; Tana Tyler (dates unknown); and Leyla Raël (m. 1977-1985). Leyla was 28 years old when she married the 82-year-old Dane. Leyla wrote extensively about

Mr. Rudhyar died in San Francisco on September 13, 1985.

Theosophical Society involvement

Rudhyar was admitted to the Theosophical Society at Krotona in Old Hollywood, California on January 31, 1920. His sponsors were A. F. Knudsen and A. P. Warrington.

Theosophical publishing houses published many of his books: The Rebirth of Indian Music (1928, Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, India)

The Halcyon Press of the Temple of the People printed the Seed Ideas series for the publishing house Hamsa Publications.

Alice Bailey, whom Rudhyar met at the Theosophical colony in Hollywood, offered to publish his works through her Lucic Publishing in New York.

Music and compositions

Soon after his arrival in the United States, Rudhyar became known as a ultra-modern composer whose ideas about dissonant harmony influenced such composers as Ruth Crawford Seeger, Henry Cowell, and Carl Ruggles. Most of his works were for solo piano or small ensembles. They have frequently been performed in concerts that also featured other 20th-century composers such as Aaron Copeland and Charles Ives.

Rudhyar also wrote and spoke extensively about music, including his own compositions:

Now I am not coming here to interpret my music, to tell you about what it means either symbolically or technically. I am not interested in that because I feel that music is something that must be experienced, that must be lived. It is not even an esthetical product because my approach is not esthetical as much as it is what you might call magical. To me, music is a power of transformation. It has the power to change the vibration of a person — as the Old World knew very well in India, in China, in even the Greece of Plato and Pythagoras — and it is to that approach to music that my life as a musician has been dedicated.

You might even say that music is a psychedelic factor, or at least that it can be so. It can be so because it can change the vibrations of a person, of his aura or his nervous system or whatever is susceptible of changing, of being transformed. It can expand consciousness in different ways...

One may in special cases affect people by single tones, but generally speaking in music what is important is the relationship that is established between vibrations and tones. Music is based on relationship. A chord is a relationship between a number of simultaneous tones. A melody is an evolving relationship between successive sounds.... there is a great difference between a music of notes and a music of tones.

He described Western music as using notes – abstract entities related to each other in patterns. Eastern music, however, is based on tones, each of which is "the body of a god" related to natural cycles and energies.

In a certain sense, there are no false notes; anything may happen between the tones because they are living entities, and they can relate to one another by subtle glissandos or undulations. It is the quality of the livingness of those tones which counts, whereas in Europe, if you do not strike exactly that note you make a wrong note.

By introducing Oriental scales, composers such as Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, Alexander Scriabin, and, in turn, Rudhyar, began to "decondition" their listeners from Western modes of musical expression. Rudhyar based many of his compositions on series of fifths. Western audiences have found his music to be dissonant, clashing, and eerie. It seems to wander along unknown paths, making unexpected turns, but it always takes listeners into a new consciousness.

Book cover

Astrology book cover

Honors

Rudyar's art and philosophy have frequently been the subjects of exhibitions, concerts, and symposia in the United States.

According to The American Theosophist in 1980,

Dane Rudhyar, who has contributed generously to The American Theosophist through the years, was recently awarded an honorary degree of Doctor in Humane Letters from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California and an honorary degree of Doctor in Transpersonal Philosophy by the California Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Menlo Park.

In 1983 the Rudhyar Institute for Transpersonal Activity (RITA) was established as a nonprofit corporation in 1981 to preserve and disseminate the work and essential message of Dane Rudhyar. In 1983 RITA held a weekend conference attended by over 100 people.

Dane Rudhyar painting "Avatar", 1938.

Writings

Dane Rudhyar published more than forty books and over 1500 articles, mostly concerning astrology and spirituality. Claude Bragdon wrote, "Rudhyar is a man of profound and penetrating vision, whose writings cast an illumination upon life."

Periodicals

Rudhyar wrote at least 1500 articles for various periodicals such as American Astrologer. He published HAMSA in Brookline, Massachusetts from 1931-1934. It was subtitled: "An Organ of Wholeness Dedicated to the Upholding of the Ideal of Harmonic Cooperation and Synthesis and to the Establishment of a Living Civilization, Animated by the Conscious Realization in Every Individual of the Living God."

The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 83 articles by or about Dane Rudhyar in nine different Theosophical periodicals.

Bibliographies

• Lists of Rudhyar's books, pamphlets, art works, and musical compositions are available at "Dane Rudhyar: Musical, Written, and Artistic Works".
• Another lengthy list of his books can be found in Dane Rudyar: A Bibliographical Checklist at DailyRareBooks.com.

Poetry

From 1917 to 1960, Rudhyar wrote seven volumes of poetry, but not all were published.

• Rhapsodies. Ottawa: Imprimerie Beauregard, 1919. First book of poetry.
• Toward Man. Carmel: The Seven Arts, 1928. Second book of poetry.
• White Thunder. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Hazel Dreis Editions, 1938. Third volume of poetry. The frontispiece was one of Rudhyar’s earliest drawings entitled "Storm Gods."
• Of Vibrancy and Peace. The Netherlands: Servire-Wassenaar, 1967.

Novels

• Rania: an Epic Narrative. Written in 1930, and first printed by Unity Press, 1973. Available with synopsis at Khaldea.com.

Books on music and art

• Claude Debussy et son oeuvre. Paris: Durand, 1913. 45 pages. Published under the name Daniel Chenneviere.
• The Rebirth of Hindu Music. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1928. One of the earliest works on Indian music.
• Liberation through Sound. 1931. A correspondence course.
• Transcendental Painting Group. Sante Fe, New Mexico: Transcendental Painting Group, 1938. Brochure. Written with Alfred Morang.
• White on the Wind. Los Angeles: Press of the Pegacycle Lady, 1971. An art book, 50 signed copies.

"Seed-Ideas" series

The "Seed-Ideas" were "a Series of Seven Essays on the Philosophy of Art." They were published by Hamsa Publications, and printed at the Halcyon Press, and also in collected editions.

• Seed-Ideas No. 1. – Dissonant Harmony, A New Principle of Musical and Social Organization. 1928. 22 pages.
• Seed-Ideas No. 2. – The New Sense of Space, A Reorientation of the Creative Faculty in Man. 1929. 30 pages.
• Seed-Ideas No. 3. – The Cycle of Culture and Sacrifice.1929.
• Seed-Ideas No. 4. – Art of Gestures and Art of Patterns. 1929.
• Seed-Ideas No. 5. – Art as Release of Power. 1929.
• Seed-Ideas No. 6. – The Synthetic Drama as a Seed of Civilization. 1929.
• Seed-Ideas No. 7. – The New Individual and the Work of Civilization. Ca. 1929.

A second series was issued in 1930:

• Seed-Ideas No. 2-3. – The Will to Destiny. 1930. 40 pages.

Another series called Seed for Greater Living ran from 1955-1962 and printed in Altadena, California.

• Seed for Greater Living. Hollywood: New Age Publishing Co., 1956. 21 pages. From a monthly series of booklets published 1955-1962.
• The Great Mutation. 1958. 32 pages.
• Where Do We Stand in the Arts? 1959. 32 pages.
• Tools for Rebirth. 1960.
• Toward a Life of Plenitude. 1960.

Books on astrology, psychology, and occult philosophy

The Astrology of Personality is considered to be a classic, fundamental work by modern astrologers.

• Paths To The Fire. 1930, 1932. Reprinted: Detroit: Hermes Press, 1978. Occult concepts relating to the cyclic evolution of mankind.
• The Luciferian Call: Shadows or Creators. A Message to the Theosophical World. [Hollywood?, ca. 1932]. 29 pages.
• The Astrology of Personality: A Re-formulation of Astrological Concepts and Ideals, in Terms of Contemporary Psychology and Philosophy. New York: Lucis, 1936. 537 pages. Rudhyar’s articles in the American Astrologer were compiled into book form at the request of his old friend Alice Bailey and published by her Lucis Press. An early edition put out by McKay. Second edition: The Hague: Servire, 1963. 537 pages. A book club edition in 1970 by Doubleday. Reissued: Santa Fe: Aurora Press, 1991. Translated into Dutch.
• New Mansions for New Men. New York: Lucis, 1938. Portions appeared in American Astrology between 1935 and 1937. A spiritual interpretation of astrology in the light of a universal symbolism. The section titled Meditations at the Gates of Light is a mystical epic poem to the zodiac. Second edition Philadelphia: David McKay, 1946. Third edition Wassenaar: Servire, 1971, reprinted Hunter House, 1978.
• Gifts of the Spirit. Los Angeles: New Age Publishing, 1956. 143 pages. Some material was from American Astrology, 1945-1946.
• The Pulse of Life: New Dynamics in Astrology. Philadelphia: David McKay, 1942. 123 pages. This book presents the signs of the zodiac within the context of modern physics, philosophy and psychology. Reprints Berkeley: Shambala, 1970, 1972.
• The Faith that Gives meaning to Victory. Hollywood: Foundation for Human Integration. 1942.
• Seeds of Plenitude. Santa Fe: The Rydal Press, 1943. Excerpts from Rudhyar writings.
• The Moon: The Cycles of Fortunes of Life. Philadelphia: David McKay, 1946. 111 pages. reprinted Shambala, 1971.
• Modern Man's Conflicts: The Creative Challenge of a Global Society. New York: Philosophical Library, 1948. 228 pages.
• Fire out of the Stone: A Reinterpretation of the Basic Images of the Christian Tradition. The Hague: Servire, 1963. 207 pages. Published in French as Le Roc Enflammée, 1960.
• An Astrological Study of Psychological Complexes and Emotional Problems. San Jacinto, 1966. Several other editions. Translated into French.
• The Rhythm of Human Fulfillment: a Cyclo-Cosmic Approach to the Basic Problems of Our Time. San Jacinto: Seed Ideas Publications, 1966. 71 pages. Palo Alto: The Seed Center, 1973, 1975.
• The Lunation Cycle. The Hague: Servire, 1967. An expansion of The Moon.
• The Practice of Astrology. The Hague: Servire, 1968.
• Birth Patterns for a New Humanity. The Hague: Servire, 1969.
• Astrology for New Minds. Lakemont, Georgia: CSA Press, 1969. Subtitled "A Non-dualistic Harmonic Approach to Astrological Charts and to the Relation between Man and the Universe." Humanistic Astrology Series No. 1.
• The Planetarization of Consciousness. The Hague: Servire, 1970.
• The Astrology of Self-actualization and the New Morality. Lakemont, Georgia: CSA Press, 1970. 47 pages. Humanistic Astrology Series No. 2.
• Form in Astrological Space and Time. Lakemont, Georgia: CSA Press, 1970. 47 pages. Humanistic Astrology Series No. 3.
• First Steps in the Study of Birth-Charts. Lakemont, Georgia: CSA Press, 1970. 59 pages. Humanistic Astrology Series No. 4.
• An Attempt at Formulating Minimal Requirements for the Practice of Astrology. Portland: Portland Astrology Center, 1970s.
• Directives for New Life. Ecology Center Press, 1971. 73 pages.
• The Planetary and Lunar Nodes. Lakemont, Georgia: CSA Press, 1971. 56 pages. Humanistic Astrology Series No. 5.
• Interpreting a Birth-Chart as a Whole. Lakemont, Georgia: CSA Press, 1971. 64 pages. Humanistic Astrology Series No. 6.
• My Stand on Astrology. Palo Alto: The Seed Center, 1972. 31 pages.

Additional resources

Biographies and catalogues

• Hay, Robert C. Dane Rudhyar and the Transcendental Painting Group of New Mexico 1938-1941: a Thesis Submitted to Michigan State University. Michigan: University Microfilms International, [1981]. 346 pages, B/W illustrations. Based on interviews with DR, Raymond Jonson, and Florence Pierce, William Lumpkins, and others associated with the TPG.
• Here, James. Dane Rudhyar 1895- A Brief Factual Biography with a Listing of Works [N.p.]: (James Shere), (1972).
• Human Dimensions. Edited by John White. Buffalo: Human Dimensions Institute Quarterly, 1975. Special issue, vol. 3, no. 3, devoted entirely to Rudhyar’s life and work. Includes published and unpublished articles, photographs, and color reproductions of his paintings.
• Levin, Gail and Marianne Lorenz. Theme and Improvisation: Kandinsky and the American Avant-Garde 1912-1950. An Exhibition Organized by the Dayton Art Institute. Dayton: Dayton Art Institute, 1992. The events surrounding the founding of the Transcendental Painting Group are related.
• Piper, Raymond & Lila. Cosmic Art. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1975. 152 pages. Illustrated. Reproduces Avatar, 1938, an early drawing of Rudhyar. Also includes paintings by members of the Transcendentalist Painting Group in Santa Fe.
• Ruperti, Alexander. The Journal of the Rudhyar Institute for Transpersonal Activity 1.1 San Francisco: RITA, Fall/ Winter, 1986. A study of DR by Alexander Ruperti.
• Seminar. Dane Rudhyar, un Humaniste du 20e Siecle. Nouvelle Acropole, 1985. 75 pages. Illustrated. Transcript of a seminar, including nine papers by A. Ruperti, G. Sabian, M. Cavaignac, L. Winckler, and F.I. Fouchou Lapeyrade. Includes a short biography and bibliography.
• Seminar. Un Nouvel Homme pour un Nouvel Age: Centenaire Dane Rudhyar, Actes du Congrès des 25 et 26 Mars 1995. Suresnes, France: R.A.H. Editions, (1995). 203 pages, charts & diagrams in the text. Published by the Association pour la Recherche des Rythmes Cosmiques Réseau d’Astrologie Humaniste.

• Symposium. Rudhyar. Catalogue of an Art & Humanities Symposium, California State University, Long Beach. March 24-26, 1976.

Articles

• "Dane Rudhyar" at Astro Databank.
• "Dane Rudhyar Natal Horoscope" at Khaldea.com.
• "An Introduction to Dane Rudhyar" by Mari Garcia and Joy Usher.
• "An Illustrated Biographic Sketch".
• "A Brief Overview of Dane Rudhyar's Approach to Cycles" by Nicki Michaels.
• "The Riddle of the USA Horoscope" at Khaldea.com.

Audio/video lectures and poems

• Dane Rudhyar Audio Archives at BeyondSunSigns.com. Recordings by and about Dane Rudhyar, including the presentation of the 1983 RITA Conference.
• Dane Rudhyar 4.4.14. Cosmic History Chronicles Vol. 4, Book of the Initiation by José Argüelles and Stephanie South. Biographical account of Dane Rudhyar.
• Astrology and the Transpersonal Life. A talk by Dane Rudhyar at the University of California Berkeley, June 22, 1975. Ray Couture YouTube channel.

Musical compositions performed

• Rudhyar Archival Project. Recordings of at least 17 Rudhyar musical compositions.
• Third Pentagram, 1926. Five movements: Gates, The Gift of Blood, Pentecost, Stars, and Sunburst. Performed by Steffen Schleiermacher, piano. TheWelleszCompany YouTube channel. Posted December 7, 2011.
• Granites, 1929. Performed by Steffen Schleiermacher, piano. Steffen Schleiermacher - Topic YouTube channel. Posted April 30, 2015.
• Music of Dane Rudhyar. Sixteen movements. Kronos Quartet: Hank Dutt, John Sherba, Joan Jeanrenaud, and David Harrington. Kronos Quartet YouTube channel. Posted Feb 10, 2015.
• Top Tracks - Dane Rudhyar. Tango d'Antan and other compositions. The Orchard Enterprises YouTube Channel. Posted November 7, 2014.
• Three Melodies, 1918/1955. A 1955 composition based on an earlier 1918 sketch. Performers: Elizabeth Coronata, flute; Gay Wuthman, cello; and Karen Jacobs, piano. Recorded on April 22, 1977 at the first concert of that year's Palo Alto Music Festival. Matt Marble YouTube channel. Posted on April 19, 2013.
• Sinfonietta, 1925. RIAS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonel Perlea. Wellesz Theatre YouTube channel.

Additional resources

• Dane Rudhyar's Natal Chart at Astrodienst.
• Rudhyar Archival Project. This astrological website offers musical recordings, sources for sheet music, biographical data, art, astrology and extensive discussion of philosophy in "The Essential Rudhyar" by Leyla Raël.