Attempt at a New Theory of Music

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on account of its extreme simplicity, we are affected by a sense of boredom; because we are accustomed to more complex compositions, we usually require much more order, and thus [this simplicity] must be abandoned. Therefore, since it clearly follows from these aforementioned judgments—both the correct and the perverse—that a musical theory original: "theoria musica"; the systematic study of the rules governing music exists entirely, in which the reason for those things which please as well as those which displease can be explained from the most certain and indubitable principles, I have resolved in the present work to investigate these principles and to build a theory of music upon them. For although many have already undertaken this labor, nevertheless all have failed to progress beyond the doctrine of consonances original: "consonantia"; combinations of notes that sound pleasing or stable together, and they have not even completed this in such a way that it could be brought into use in practical music original: "musica practica"; the actual performance and composition of music as opposed to abstract theory. However, as to how much has been achieved in this book—even if we have not finished the entire task—we leave the judgment original: "iudicium" to others. In the meantime, the precepts born from our theory are in the highest degree consistent with music