XII. MUSIC 



Introduction. — That the songs might be delivered as nearly as 

 possible at the same pitch which the singers used when making the 

 records, investigation was made as to the usual speed used by manu- 

 facturers while recording. It. was found to be 160 revolutions per 

 minute. Accordingly the phonograph was carefully set at this speed 

 during transcription. 



In determining the keys in which to transcribe the various songs, 

 the pitch-pipe used was that of the "International," which was 

 adopted at the Vienna Congress in Nov. 1887. This congress estab- 

 lished c 2 =522 double vibrations per second. All the records proved 

 to be a shade flat by this standard, but were found to be almost ex- 

 actly in accord with an instrument of fixed pitch, which in turn was 

 found to be approximately eleven beats at variance with the pitch- 

 pipe on c 2 . 



Assuming that the recording and transcribing speeds of the ma- 

 chines were the same, this would place the original singing almost 

 exactly in accord with the old "philosophical standard of pitch" which 

 places c 2 at 512 double vibrations per second. Though the singing 

 was not always in perfect accord with the notes set down in tran- 

 scriptions, with the exception of those very marked departures 

 especially indicated in the music, the variations were so slight that, so 

 far as true intonation goes, the performances were fully up to the 

 standard of those of the average natural singer. 



Special ear tubes were used while transcribing the records, and re- 

 sort made to a special device wherewith any order of whole, or even 

 part measures could be consecutively played. Thus it was possible to 

 closely compare parts which were similar in either words or music. 



In some of the records two or more voices can be distinguished 

 singing in unison. Such unisons are shown in the transcription by 

 single notes. No attempt has been made to indicate the several voices. 

 But when such single notes are shown accompanied by the word 

 "solo," it is to be understood that all of the performers have dropped 

 out but one, probably the leader. When the voices split up into parts, 

 it is so notated in the music. 



Primitive people display more or less timidity in giving their 

 songs for scientific purposes. Such timidity is especially apt to be 



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