A new article has just been published on Marco Pallis (1895–1989), the leading Buddhist Traditionalist, and his involvement with music, especially with the revival of “early music” by Arnold Dolmetsch (1858–1940) and Mabel Dolmetsch (1874–1963). It is David R. M. Irving, “Esoteric Elements in the Early Music Revival: Marco Pallis, Traditionalism, and the Dolmetsch Circle, from Haslemere to the Himalayas,” Acta Musicologica 96, no. 1 (2024): 38-58.
Irving, as the title of his article suggests, argues that the esoteric milieu in general, and Traditionalism in particular, was more important for the Early Music revival than is generally appreciated. Traditionalism was certainly important for Pallis and his understanding of music, as well (of course) as his understanding of Buddhism and Tibet, and Pallis was, as Irving shows, important for the Dolmetsches. The article also shows the importance of the Arts and Crafts Movement and William Morris (1834–1896), which connects with Traditionalism through the person and work of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877–1947).
A fascinating and beautifully written article that casts light on an aspect of Traditionalism that has so far been only little studied.
1 comment:
According to an ex-CIA operative, Marco Pallis was definitely British intelligence/MI6:
One of those shepherding him through the British government
and establishment was the well-known author and Himalayan
ethnographer Marco Pallis, who also served his government as
an intelligence agent. For some years he had been in contact
with Gyalo, advising him that only the British government
could help Tibet and that he should seek aid from London
exclusively. Accordingly he arranged a meeting for Gyalo
with the chief of MI-6, the external intelligence service
whose agents had been keeping an eye on affairs in Tibet for
the past century.
Source: Kraus, John Kenneth "Beyond Shangri-La America and
Tibet's Move into the Twenty-First Century" Durham &
London: Duke University Press, 2012.
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