Acoustics

Some Accounts

regarding the history of my acoustic discoveries.

Since various people have shown interest during my oral accounts of the history of my discoveries, and some also while reading what was said about them in Voigt’s Magazine for the Latest in Physics and Natural History Original: "Voigts Magazin für das neueste aus der Physik und Naturgeschichte," a prominent scientific journal of the late 18th century. Vol. IX, Part 4, I have no hesitation in mentioning some of it here as well. I do this primarily to show that absolutely none of this was a result of chance, but rather of persistent striving. During the greater part of my life thus far, I had every reason to be dissatisfied with my fate—especially with the complete contradiction between my external circumstances and my inclinations. However, I have since found that everything was for the best; under a different course of fate, many things that may be useful for acoustics and its practical applications to the art of music Tonkunst: the art of music or musical composition would at least not have been discovered by me, and I would have had to forgo much subsequent applause, advantage, and pleasure. Nevertheless, I cannot advise another to yield so little to external circumstances, nor to abandon a career already entered upon—which, though not quite in accordance with one's inclination, promises certain advantages—in order to pursue entirely uncertain prospects; for a procedure of this kind would likely not have the desired success in most cases.

My father was Ernst Martin Chladni, or Chladenius *), Electoral Saxon Court Councilor and first Professor of Law in Wittenberg; a man who, because of his integrity,

*) He, as well as his father (who was Provost and Professor of Theology in Wittenberg), had the name of his ancestors—who were preachers and mining officials Bergofficianten: officials overseeing mining operations in Hungary—according to The sentence breaks off here at the bottom of the page; it likely refers to the Latinization of the family name from Chladni to Chladenius.