Newtonian Music
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Rameau sought music’s foundation in three fundamental harmonics generated by a sounding string: the octave (2nd), twelfth (3rd), and seventeenth (5th). For him the ‘triple geometric progression’ (harmonics 1-3-9-27-81) as shown in this diagram formed the basis of diatonic melody. Here, the major scale ‘ut re mi fa sol…’ is supported by bass notes that progress by intervals of a fifth: 'ut sol ut fa ut…'
Author: Jean-Philippe Rameau
Title: Démonstration du principe de l'harmonie [Demonstration of the principle of harmony] (Paris, 1752)
Shelfmark: D.16.29
Provenance: Formerly owned by Isaac Milner (1750–1820)
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