Dialogue of Galilei

...diligence used by me for many years to learn them, my words would rightfully defend themselves; but let the judgment of this be reserved for those who are knowledgeable. For this reason—and so that I do not defraud the world of any utility it might draw from my labors—I have been pleased to publish some of my thoughts concerning Ancient Music and that of our times. These have, in my opinion, been little understood until today by anyone who has treated the subject. Without further testimony from me, the difficulty of the material itself is clear evidence of this. Therefore, I ask the Reader who prepares to judge or compare my writings with those of other moderns for supreme attention and a mind free from every human affection Galilei uses "affection" here to mean prejudice or emotional bias.. For it is clear that whoever does not have a mind entirely purged of every passion cannot give a perfect judgment on anything. Every warning given to me by an intelligent man and a lover of the truth I will receive gracefully and remain obliged to him; I am never ashamed to learn from those who understand better than I.

Now, because a long, continuous speech—running on like a rushing torrent—does not seem to have that force and vigor in concluding sentences and arguments that the Dialogue has, I have judged it very appropriate to treat my present Discourses in such a manner. I easily believe this was one of the powerful reasons that induced Plato to treat matters of Divine Philosophy in this way. I have therefore chosen to discuss these matters with the Most Illustrious Signor GIOVANNI Bardi, named shortly above, and with Signor PIERO Strozzi, as they are most studious of true Music and great lovers of such speculations, and capable of sustaining this and even greater weights. On the occasion, then, of wanting to see clearly which of the Diatonic species A "species" refers to a specific way of tuning the musical scale—essentially, the mathematical ratios between notes. modern Counterpoint composers and singers use for their songs, Signor PIERO Strozzi spoke to Signor GIOVANNI in this manner:

STROZZI: It seems a great thing to me, Signor Giovanni, that of so many excellent men who have written on the faculty of Music from the time of Guido d'Arezzo An 11th-century monk regarded as the inventor of modern musical notation. until now—not incidentally, but as professors of the art—there has been no one (as far as I know) who has declared to us which type of Diatonic species we compose and sing in today without bringing a thousand difficulties and contradictions. And yet, among the principal things, I repute this the most principal and important, and of the utmost necessity to be known. I cannot help but blush merely thinking of the little knowledge found universally among modern practitioners regarding the things they have constantly in their hands; the virtue and nature of which they profess to know and understand excellently, satisfying themselves with being esteemed as such by the unskilled multitude. Since I find myself also stained by this pitch, I greatly desire to purge myself of such a defect with your help.

BARDI: You constantly bring up most subtle and unusual questions, which give evidence of your fine intellect to anyone who hears them. To clearly explain the question you asked me, it will be necessary to untangle many intricate knots; to please you, this will not cause me any boredom at all.

STROZZI: If it will be no trouble for you to explain them to me, it will give me the highest contentment to understand them. Therefore, when it pleases you, I am ready to listen to you with the greatest attention that can be desired.

What the species sung today is, according to Zarlino. In the 2nd book of the Harmonic Institutions, chapter 16; and in the fifth discussion of the Demonstrations, third definition. Eusebius in his Chronicles. Aristotle in the 8th [book] of Physics at texts twenty-two. The Privilege of Pythagoras. Boethius in [Book] 1 of Music, chapter 33. Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods.

BARDI: It is necessary, as the foundation for this high machine, to diligently examine every interval of the Diatonic species between which this dispute arises. Then, we must see which of those Diatonic species the music composed and sung today has the most conformity with. I do not doubt that this knowledge will lead us to a safe harbor. First of all, we will examine—as the most recent and principal—the one where all the practitioners of our times universally agree, moved by the authority of the Reverend Master Gioseffo Zarlino The most influential music theorist of the 16th century and Galilei's rival.. This species, according to his preference, is Ptolemy's Syntonic Diatonic Original: Syntono Incitato. A tuning system that uses "just" intervals, emphasizing pure thirds.. After this examination, we will see, with the same diligence, the system held by all other moderns besides him—such as Guido d'Arezzo, Gafurio, Glarean, Faber, Valgulio, and other grave writers. All of these, by common opinion, affirm that what is sung today is the most ancient Ditonic Diatonic Original: Diatono Ditonico. The Pythagorean tuning system based on perfect fifths, which results in "harsh" thirds.; the proportions of which were investigated with subtle consideration by Pythagoras of Samos in the sixtieth Olympiad.

STROZZI: Before your Lordship begins to untie the knot of the proposed doubt, I desire that in those things where the senses reach, one should always set aside (as Aristotle says in the eighth book of Physics) not only authority, but even the colored reason that might oppose it with any appearance of truth. For it seems to me that they do a ridiculous thing (not to say, along with the Philosopher, a foolish one) who, for proof of any of their conclusions, want one to believe simple authority without any other reason, without bringing forward valid arguments. This privilege is not found to have been granted to anyone else but to the followers of the most wise Pythagoras, whom you just named. I want, furthermore, for you to grant me the freedom to question and answer you without any strain of flattery, as is truly appropriate among those who seek the truth of things.