Hans Kayser Master of the Science of Harmonics

About the Author

The Institute of Cosmological Economics is honored to be involved in supporting the work of the Sacred Science Translation Society through translating the complete works of Hans Kayser, the great master of Harmonics which forms the basis for Gann’s Law of Vibration.

Kayser’s Textbook of Harmonics is a 600 page masterpiece on the science and technology of harmonic vibration as an ordering principle or control factor behind all universal form, structure and process. Gann developed much of his Law of Vibration through the Natural Sciences of the late 1800’s.

Hans Kayser was a contemporary of Gann and took a similar interest in the science of vibration, applying it to the fields of science, cosmology, philosophy, architecture, botany and much more. As such, it is one of THE most important source and reference works for any serious student of Gann Theory.

Biographical Info

The following biography is an abridged version of the complete Hans Kayser biography on our sister-site: www.hanskayser.com.

Early Years

Hans Kayser was born on April 1, 1891, in Buchau am Federsee, Germany.

In his youth he flourished as a musician and painter. As a young man he would often express a heartfelt reverence for nature combined with a solidly scientific approach; this respect for the patterns building the universe must have grown from his father’s influence during his formative years.

Music Studies

In 1911 Kayser undertook music studies at the Berlin Academy of Music. He first studied composition with Engelbert Humperdinck (whose teaching style he strongly disliked), then quickly transferred to Stuttgart to study under Joseph Haas; but after a few months he returned to Berlin, not to resume his studies at the Academy, but instead to pursue private lessons. Thus, in April 1913, he began lessons with Arnold Schönberg.

Schönberg gave Hans an excellent background in harmonics and composition theory, though they eventually quarreled; Schönberg, despite recognizing his student’s great gifts, advised Kayser that he should not become a composer since he was more philosopher than musician. Despite their differences, Kayser later remembered Schönberg fondly, in particular the gift for painting that both men shared.

World War I

With the outbreak of World War I Hans joined the army voluntarily as this meant he could choose which regiment to serve in. His military service was marked by a series of lucky and rather humorous accidents .

Early Works

Following the end of the war Kayser studied art history with Prof. Hans Preuss, and wrote a dissertation drawing parallels between Fra Angelico’s art and the Summa Theologica of Antoninus Florentinus.

By then, Kayser’s literary career had begun: 1919 saw the publication of the first volume of Der Dom: Bücher deutscher Mystik by Insel-Verlag, a collection of writings on mysticism by authors including Johannes Kepler, Jakob Böhme, and Paracelsus, edited in part by Hans Kayser.

He bought a printing press in 1922, with which he produced various small publications, mostly ephemeral; this project did not last long, but gave him some experience in book design that he would have opportunities to use later.

Kayser's Orpheus was published in 1926, followed by Der hörende Mensch (The Hearing Human) in 1932.

Life & Writings Throughout World War II

Hitler was now on the rise to power, and some of Hans’s writings had been suppressed because of his anti-Nazi sentiments. The Kaysers’ financial situation was worsening, and had they remained in Germany, there might have been great danger, since his wife Clara was of Jewish descent. They were saved by an unforeseen circumstance: Gustav Fueter (1889-1948), a prominent Swiss businessman, became Hans’s patron by moving him and his family to Switzerland and supporting him financially for two years. Like Kayser, Fueter believed that the development of harmonics as a science had the potential to improve the human condition.

Hans Kayser enjoyed a singular friendship with his first patron, instructing him in harmonics even though Hans was not a born teacher, and undertaking works in which the whole Kayser family was involved (most notably Blätter für harmonikale Forschung, a 15-volume collection of essays distributed to a very limited circle).

Due to evolving personal differences Fueter ceased his support of Kayser in 1936. Not long afterwards Clara managed to secure the patronage of Hermann Rupf, another wealthy businessman with a strong interest in the arts. This paved the way for the publication of Vom Klang der Welt (The Sound of the World, 1937),Abhandlungen zur Ektypik harmonikaler Wertformen (Essays on the Ektypics of Harmonic Value-Forms, 1938), and Grundriss eines Systems der harmonikalen Wertformen (Plan for a System of Harmonic Value-Forms, 1938); these three books would form the major part of the foundation for his Lehrbuch der Harmonik (Textbook of Harmonics).

Kayser continued to work under Rupf’s patronage during the war years, resulting in the publication of Harmonia Plantarum (1943), dedicated to the memory of his father and their botanical explorations; and the 2-volume set Harmonikale Studien (Harmonic Studies, 1946-7). The Lehrbuch was the culmination of his career, not only in its magnificently all-embracing content, but also in its presentation; the original oversize edition, produced on high-quality paper with multiple folding plates, was a testimony to Kayser’s technical knowledge as a printer and his discerning taste in design.

Hans lost his German citizenship in 1940, and was without a homeland until 1948, when he was granted the rare privilege of becoming a Swiss citizen.

Paesteum

A trip to southern Italy in 1954 formed the basis for Paestum (1958), a harmonic analysis of Grecian architecture that offers some astounding revelations about the designs of ancient monuments, while at the same time painting a moving and evocative picture of the harmonist’s solitary quest for ancient knowledge. In Paestum, Kayser’s great learning and wisdom are conveyed in a more fully matured style than ever before, making what would be his final work—besides Harmonikale Symbolik, published posthumously—a true masterpiece.

Kayser’s Passing & Legacy

Hans Kayser died peacefully from heart failure on April 14, 1964, after a relatively short illness. He was 73. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and five grandchildren. He also left behind a library of approximately 4,500 volumes. During his lifetime, Kayser authored a total of 15 books and 45 essays, as well as 32 musical compositions.

References

Ammann, Walter (ed.).
Hans Kayser: zum 100. Geburtstag am 1. April 1991:
Biographische Fragmente. Bern: Kreis der Freunde um Hans Kayser, 1991.

Haase, Rudolf.
Hans Kayser: Ein Leben für die Harmonik der Welt. Basel: Schwabe & Co., 1968.

The Hans Kayser Website

For a vast resource filled with Hans Kayser and Harmonics writings, visit our Hans Kayser website: www.hanskayser.com

Here you will find the following sections of Kayser writings and resources:

• History of Harmonics
• Harmonics & Mathematics
• Harmonics & Geometry
• Harmonics & Astronomy
• Cosmology & Cosmogony
• Harmonics & Architecture
• Harmonics & Language
• Harmonics & Symbolism
• Gann & Financial Markets
• Harmonics in Nature
• Harmonics & Music Theory
• Harmonic Theories & Diagrams
• Library & Resources
• Bookstore

Also see the German Hans Kayser website for further resources.

Publications

Textbook of Harmonics

0
Hardcover Black Suede Gilt 4to - over 9¾ Sacred Science Book ID: 346 Publication Date: 1950 Reprint Date: 2006	Textbook of Harmonics Kayser's Magnum Opus - 1st English Translation Hans Kayser 712 Pages 1st Edition   $350.00 (New Hardcover)     Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 The first release in our project to translate the complete works of Hans Kayser. The Textbook is THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK ON HARMONICS AND VIBRATION EVER WRITTEN! This course is the equivalent to a Ph.D. in technical and historical harmonics and musicology, and there is no work ever created or conceived which touches the depth of knowledge and scientific application of this masterpiece! 485 illustrations. Read more.... Similar Books by Category Ancient Civilizations | Architecture | Art | Baumring Science List | Cosmology | Esoteric Cosmology | Fractal Geometry | Hans Kayser | Harmonics and Music | Law of Vibration | Magic Squares | Market Geometry | Market Science | Mathematics | Natural Order | Natural Philosophy | Number Theory | Physics | Pythagorean | Sacred Geometry | Space-time | Time | Time Cycles | Vortex Systems | Baumring Reading List | Gann Research | Science of Vibration | The Canon

Sample Sections from the Book

• Translation Society Preface
• Contents of The Work
• Hans Kayser’s Foreword
• Harmonic Cosmogeny
• Harmonics in the Ancient World
• Parabola, Hyperbola & Ellipse
• Polar Diagrams
• Harmomics as a Science
• Tone Spirals & Tone Curves
• Partial Tone Diagram / Square Of Nine

Harmonia Plantarum

   

Harmonia Plantarum by Hans Kayser ( $175.00 )

German Edition 1943. 350 Pages - with numerous plates and illustrations.

This is Kayser's extensive work on the Harmonics of Plant Forms, filled with fascinating diagrams of the structure and harmonic relations of plant forms.

Paestum

   

Paestum by Hans Kayser ( $150.00 )

German Edition 1958, Translation Society Edition 2010. 205 Pages, with 50 plates and illustrations.

This is Hans Kayser’s primary work on the Harmonics of Architecture, using the temple at Paestum to demonstrate how Sacred Architecture is constructed according to Harmonic Proportions.

A Harmonic Division Canon

   

A Harmonic Division Canon by Hans Kayser ( $75.00 )

German Edition 1946, Translation Society Edition 2010. With 20 plates and illustrations.

This interesting, shorter work by Hans Kayser gives a harmonic analysis of the human body, and its proportions. The collection of essays by Kayser’s student Rudolf Haase presents a number of very interesting essays on the History of Harmonics and its relations. Also included is Hans’ Kayser’s Horoscope with a brief analysis.

Akroasis (Forthcoming)

German Edition 1943. 175 Pages With plates and illustrations

This is Kayser's introductory work on his Doctrine of the World Harmonic, and an essential introduction to the subject of Harmonics and lead in to the Textbook of Harmonics. An excellent work to introduce one to the subject and to Kayser's approach to the topic.

   

Akroasis by Hans Kayser ( $50.00 )

Continuing Research

Our Hans Kayser Translation Project through the Sacred Science Translation Society and Sacred Science Preservation Foundation is an ongoing non-profit project to bring ALL of Kayser’s important work into English for wider consumption. We have translated the 1st four of approximately 12 Volumes of Kayser’s work, and plan to continue the work until the series is completed.

Related Pages