| Edition Originale peu commune de cet ouvrage important sur la musique "dans lequel l'auteur traite avec beaucoup de clarté de la théorie physique et mathématique de la musique" (Larousse). William Holder (1614-1697) avait acquis une grande célébrité en apprenant à parler à un sourd-muet de naissance, et il avait fait une étude particulière de l'acoustique et du mécanisme du langage. Dans cet ouvrage devenu classique, il établissait un lien original entre la théorie musicale et les vues de Galilée sur le pendule. "Holder's originality in his Treatise lies in his explanation of the physics and acoustics of music, making a link with Galileo's isochronism theory of the pendulumä Its preoccupation with the physical basis of music is typical of the growing spirit of scientific enquiry of the period and of the Age of Reason that brought the arts as well as the sciences within the scope of such enquiry" (New Grove). "William Holder's treatise contains nine chapters, discussing Sound in general, Sound harmonick, Consonancy, Concord, Proportions, Discords and Degrees, Discords and Differences, with an Appendix to the second chapter on the Motions and Measures of a Pendulum and a digression after the sixth chapter concerning the ancient Greek music. The definitions are given with accuracy and intelligence, and the treatise was long regarded as an authoritative guide" (Deakin). Brunissures. RISM Ecrits p. 420. Gregory and Bartlett, II, 125. Wing H2389. Deakin, Musical works, p. 23. |
