In my world, the discovery of new texts from pre-Socratic philosopher Empedocles is a big deal.

Those who have read my books Healing Songs or Music to Raise the Dead will know that I view Empedocles as a musical shaman who believed songs had magical properties—including the power to raise the dead back to life.

Academic philosophers find this highly embarrassing, and have even tried to suppress some of his more controversial writings. But Empedocles deserves better. He is a key figure in the history of music, although his name is rarely mentioned in music history books.