Attempt at a New Theory of Music

Since they establish The author is referring to the complex mathematical ratios or "orders" mentioned in the preceding text such things as can only be perceived by the sharpest ears, it is no wonder if duller ears find no sweetness in them at all. Therefore, when barbarians original: "barbari" — used here in the classical sense to mean those outside of one's own civilization or musical tradition derive little or no pleasure from our music, the cause of this is by no means that there is truly no sweetness in it, or that it pleases us solely out of habit. Rather, it must be judged that there is such a manifold order and sweetness within our music that only the smallest part of it can be perceived by barbarians. In this matter, however, habit is of the greatest value—not indeed for persuading oneself that a certain musical composition is pleasing when it seems unpleasant to others, but for exercising and sharpening the sense of hearing itself, so that it can perceive all the orders with which such music is filled. Therefore, for those who have not yet exercised and perfected their ears in this way, the simplest music, by which we—