UNIVERSAL

HARMONY,

CONTAINING THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MUSIC,

In which is treated the Nature of Sounds and Movements, Consonances, Dissonances, Genres, Modes, Composition, the Voice, Songs, and all kinds of Harmonic Instruments.

By Friar MARIN MERSENNEoriginal: "F. MARIN MERSENNE" of the Order of Minims.The Minims are a Roman Catholic religious order of friars founded by St. Francis of Paola; Mersenne was a prominent member who maintained a vast correspondence with the leading scientists of his day.

Printer's mark of Sébastien Cramoisy. A central circular medallion depicts a stork in a nest feeding its young. The medallion is bordered by an inscription translated from Latin: "Honor your father and your mother, that you may live long upon the land. Exodus 20."original Latin: "HONORA PATREM TVVM, ET MATREM TVAM, VT SIS LONGEVVS SVPER TERRAM. Ex. XX." The circle is flanked by two seated cherubs and surrounded by four smaller circular vignettes at the corners depicting various figures in classical or biblical scenes. At the bottom center, a small shield bears the initials "S. C." for the printer's name.

AT PARIS,

By SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, Printer in ordinary to the King,

St. James Street, at the sign of the Storks.

1636

With Privilege of the King, and Approval of the Doctors.A "Privilege" was an early form of copyright protection granted by the Crown, while the "Approval of the Doctors" refers to the official sanction given by university or religious authorities to certify the work's contents.