Following his lecture-course Eurythmy as Visible Singing, these fundamental lectures on speech eurythmy – offered in response to specific requests – gave Rudolf Steiner the opportunity to complete the foundations of the new art of movement. Speaking to eurythmists and invited artists, Steiner connects to the centuries-old esoteric and exoteric Western traditions of ‘the Word’ – the creative power in the sounds of the divine-human alphabet – giving it concrete form and expression in the performing arts, education and therapy. In addition to the fifteen lectures in the course, this special edition features supporting lectures and reports by Rudolf Steiner, dozens of photographs and line drawings, as well as introductions, commentary, notes and supplementary essays compiled by editor Alan Stott, including ‘Eurythmy and the English Language’ by Annelies Davidson. Although aimed primarily at the professional concerns of eurythmists who perform, teach or work as therapists, the lectures offer a wealth of suggestions and insights to those with artistic questions and concerns. ‘Only someone who creatively unfolds a sense for art from an inner calling, an inner enthusiasm, can work as an artist in eurythmy. To manifest those possibilities of form and movement inherent in the human organisation, the soul must inwardly be completely occupied with art. This all-embracing character of eurythmy was the foundation for all that was presented.’ – Rudolf Steiner ‘For the poet, for the thinker, and for the movement artist who thinks with his/her whole body, the highest mental act is done with all their heart and with all their mind and with all their soul.’ – Alan Stott

‘The study of music is the study of the human being. The two are inseparable, and eurythmy is the art which brings this most clearly to expression. In these lectures, Rudolf Steiner guides us along a path toward an understanding of the human form as music comes to rest – the movements of eurythmy bringing this music back to life.’ – Dorothea Mier ‘Fundamentally speaking, music is the human being, and indeed it is from music that we rightly learn how to free ourselves from matter.’ – Rudolf Steiner The focus of these eight lectures is the source of movement and gesture in the human being. The movement in musical experience is thus traced back to its origin in the human instrument itself. Like the degrees of the musical scale, Rudolf Steiner leads his select audience of young artists through eight stages, focusing on the living principles of discovery and renewal. Eurythmy was born in the turbulent decades of the early twentieth century. From an individual question as to whether it was possible to create an art based on meaningful movement, Rudolf Steiner responded with fresh creative possibilities for a renewal of the arts in their totality. The new art of eurythmy was an unexpected gift. Today, music eurythmy, along with its counterpart based on speech, is practiced as an art, taught as a subject in schools, enjoyed as a social activity and applied as a therapy. This definitive translation of Steiner’s original lecture course on eurythmy includes a facsimile, transcription and translation of the lecturer’s notes, together with an introduction and index. The volume is supplemented with an extensive ‘companion’, featuring full commentary and notes compiled by Alan Stott, as well as a translation of Josef Matthias Hauer’s Interpreting Melos.

An important introductory lecture on the new art of eurythmy given prior to a performance during a conference in Wales.

Eurythmy is an art form that makes sounds visible. By incorporating zodiac gestures into their art, as indicated by Rudolf Steiner, eurythmists can draw on a deep connection between the earth and the cosmos. The zodiac, as representative of the whole cosmos, is a vital part of human spirituality, acting as the backdrop to human life. But it can be hard to fathom the zodiac's secrets, even through meditation. Barfod draws a parallel between meditative exercises and eurythmy practice, and shows how zodiac gestures in eurythmy can reveal cosmic insights. This is a book for eurythmy teachers and practitioners who want to deepen their art and spiritual work.

16 talks preceding eurythmy performances (CW 277 / 277a) The art of eurythmy strives to make the invisible visible in a harmonious and disciplined play of color, form, sound, and motion. During the early years of the twentieth century when eurythmy was young and little known, Rudolf Steiner's introductory talks prepared nearly 300 audiences for their encounters with this wholly new way of presenting drama, poetry, and music through human movement. Full of life and creativity, these talks illuminate the richness underlying the spiritual laws of this new art form. Sixteen of Steiner's talks on eurythmy are presented here as an introduction to the aesthetic, pedagogical, and therapeutic secrets of this developing art. This volume contains translations of 1st lecture in Die Entstehung und Entwickelung der Eurythmie (GA 277a); and 15 lectures in Eurythmie als Impuls für künstlerisches Betätigen und Betrachten (current edition: Eurythmie. Die Offenbarung der sprechenden Seele, GA 277).

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,7, University of Kassel, language: English, abstract: What is Eurythmy? Is it a language? Why are people dancing instead of speaking? What kind of semiotic elements are used to make speech visible? Do we understand Eurythmy without knowing anything about it? In this paper those and other question will be tried to explain. Eurythmy, derived from Greek (eu rythmos = good rhythm) [Grassmann, Lothar] is an expressive movement art also called visible speech. Eurythmy still is a little explored phenomenon but what is known about it is very interesting for semiotic studies. When we move in daily routine, we do not pay attention to how we use our body. Eurythmists do: the “Art of Soul” [Zanker, Claudia] combines body and soul and visualizes sounds and speech by moving the whole body in space instead of speaking words out loud. Also it “brings the essence of music and language to visible manifestation” [Austin Eurythmie Ensamble]. This is not about doing any arbitrary exercises but more about following strict rules connected to sounds and rhythm of language. What is deep inside while speaking is shown by gestures, what touches the soul by listening to music can be seen by watching people. Eurythmy was developed by Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner. In cooperation with Marie von Sievers, who decided about the name “Eurythmy”, Steiner created the first motion sequences in 1912 and after a while the whole masterpiece with all its rules and sections. Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, esoteric and educator. He lived from 1861 till 1925. During his lifetime he founded the anthroposophical ideology (Anthroposophy = human’s wisdom) and the concept of Waldorfschools as well. The first Waldorfschool opened its doors in 1919. In Steiner’s opinion the eurythmical character is to let “the insides move out” so that mind, soul and body work together harmoniously. [Krämer:35] Today Eurythmy is used in education and therefore obligatory subject in all grades of Waldorfschools. The students learn Eurythmy as a language and also as “Visible Music” [Steiner:Gesang]. There are many different performances of all kinds of music that can be seen worldwide. Every performance is presented in special rooms, some by professional Eurythmists who have completed a five year program at an university. Every actor wears long, wide, and flowing robes.