LEOPOLD I.

TO THE EMPEROR

OF THE ROMANS,

FOREVER

AUGUST,

JUST, PIOUS, AND BLESSED,

ATHANASIUS KIRCHER

OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS The Society of Jesus is the Catholic religious order commonly known as the Jesuits, of which Kircher was a prominent member..

A decorative woodcut initial 'V' depicting a seated figure, possibly King David, playing a harp, enclosed within a square frame with scrolling acanthus leaves and floral ornamentation.
WITH THE MIGHTY blast of the Trumpet I will lift up my voice; with the polyphony original: polyphonismo; Kircher uses this to describe many-voiced or harmonious music, a central theme of his work. of the military fanfares original: classicorum; here referring to the ceremonial trumpet signals used to announce a commander or the start of battle. I will shake the very vault of Heaven; with the martial din of horns and pipes original: tibiarum, referring to ancient wind instruments similar to flutes or oboes. I will strike the minds and ears of my listeners; with the most powerful...