S6 On RYTHMICAL MEASURES. 



larger combinations or ftrains. We may be affifted in doing 

 this, and determined to a particular number, by the fame 

 means by which we are affifted and determined in forming the 

 fingle parcels, chiefly by paufes, and by the return of fimilar 

 founds, or of fimilar combinations and divifions. By being 

 led to form fuch aggregates, the pleafure we derive from liften- 

 ing to the fucceffion is greatly increafed. We are thus provided 

 with certain ftages or refting-places, and are enabled to count 

 off the parcels with more fteadinefs, and with a fmaller effort of 

 the attention. Our fatisfadion is ftill farther enhanced, when 

 the entire piece confifts of fome fimple and agreeable number 

 of fuch aggregates. We have then the impreffion of a whole, 

 of fomething finifhed and complete ; and have a lively percep- 

 tion of that proportion and arrangement of parts, which is 

 effential to every thing that can be accounted beautiful or 

 pleafing. 



We may now be able to form fome precife idea of what may 

 be called a regular and perfedl rythm. It is a fucceffion of 

 meafured founds, all of which are either equal to, or are certain 

 multiples or certain parts of fome determined portion of time, 

 which may be called an unit, and are fo arranged and difpofed 

 that the hearer is eafily led to count off thofe units by equal 

 parcels of fome fimple number, and alfo to combine two, three 

 or four of thofe parcels together, the whole fucceffion contain- 

 ing a fmall determined number of thofe larger aggregates. It 

 is in this manner, that all thofe pieces of mufic, which are com- 

 monly called ain, are conftrudled. The regular minuet confifts 

 of two parts or complete ftrains, the units are conftantly formed 

 into parcels of three, and each part contains eight of thofe par- 

 cels or bars, which the hearer is difpofed to combine into aggre- 

 gates of two or four. The regular march and gavot are con- 

 ftruded in the fame manner, only the bars or firft parcels con- 

 fift of four units in place of three. 



Having 



