Declaration of Musical Instruments

Prologue

For a man who has written so much, it is not a great wonder to err in something; and as I confess that which is good to be from God, I acknowledge the errors to be my own. Our Lord has permitted this so that we may recognize ourselves as mere men. If anyone should wish to advise me of a mistake, God (who leaves no good deed without a reward) will repay him; and if anyone wishes to write against my work, I shall not be indignant, provided that he teaches the truth to the world. God is my witness that I speak the truth: I would hold in higher esteem one who, by writing against me, taught the truth, than one who praised me for a falsehood, if I knew it to be an error. Therefore, with the same zeal and charity that moved me to write against the works of others, I shall hope to be taught myself.

But if anyone should reprimand me for that which is not my fault, and wishes to obscure the truth of Music—either out of a refusal to admit they are wrong or because they lack understanding—let it be known that I intend to defend myself with all my strength. Just as I entreat the wise (whom I have held as my masters) to teach me in whatever manner they please, likewise those who are not wise have no license to write against me, except at their own peril.

In the arts you will find in my books, I have imitated the learned musicians of the present day. If in the coming century musicians should discover other things, even if they go against what is determined in these pages, let them not condemn me—as some unlearned men do regarding certain parts of Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (c. 480–524 AD), whose work De institutione musica was the standard music theory textbook for a thousand years. Bermudo is defending Boethius against critics who did not understand his historical context.. Music is not an article of faith Bermudo makes a crucial distinction here: unlike religious dogma, music is a science and an art that evolves over time. that must never be changed; it has undergone great mutations. Those who are wise will judge what they find written about Music according to the time in which it was written.

Furthermore, because when an author is absent from his work, people may change or corrupt it through malice or ignorance during the printing process, it may be that these works of mine are printed in times to come. Let that edition be held as the true one which conforms to the books printed in the year 1555 original: M.D.L.v..