Attempt at a New Theory of Music

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We have diligently investigated the power and intensity of sounds, and we have revealed the method of constructing individual musical instruments in such a way that all sounds—however different they may be in their degree of depth original: "gravitatis"; referring to low pitch or bass frequencies—are nevertheless made equally strong. From this, it appears that no small amount of benefit will flow into the manufacturing of musical instruments.

Moreover, musical theory Theoria musica: the systematic study of the rules and principles governing music rests upon a twofold foundation. One of these is contained in the accurate knowledge of sounds, which properly belongs to natural science original: "scientiam naturalem"; what we would today call physics or acoustics, and this was more than sufficiently explained in the first chapter. The other principle, however, must be sought instead from metaphysics; for by this, it must be defined what things cause multiple sounds—perceived by hearing either simultaneously or successively—to please or displease. Guided by both reason and experience, we have resolved this question in such a way that two or more