Iain Spence on the 'Psychedelic Prophets'

 

Iain Spence pens an interesting review of Psychedelic Prophets, the correspondence of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond.

The book apparently has lots of interesting bits:

"By the early 1960s, both men were keen to split their own quiet, scholarly approach to psychedelics from Timothy Leary’s work. Gossiping behind Leary’s back, they paint a picture of a psychologist who’s too damned keen to cock a snook at the authorities at Harvard. Of course, at this point, mainstream society had no idea who Timothy Leary was or the remarkable social changes which were just around the corner."

And I was interested in this:

"Other conversations lead them to wonder what is the best classical music to play when under the influence of psychedelics?

"According to Aldous, Bach’s B-minor Suite and the ‘Musical Offering’ were positively overwhelming while other music jarred, such as works of Palestrina and Byrd. Gregorian chanting was reported as grotesque. We are told to avoid highly emotional and tragic music, such as requiems by Verdi, and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis."

Read the whole review.