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XL VII. Principles of the Science of Tuning Instruments with Fixed Tones. 

 By Charles Earl Stanhope. f 



SEVERAL of the first mathematicians, as well as many of the most 

 distinguished musicians, have spent much time in endeavouring to discover the 

 best manner of tuning instruments with fixed tones ; but their efforts have not, 

 as yet, beeu attended with the desired success. 



■When I began this inquiry, I had the curiosity to converse with sixteen or 

 eighteen of the most eminent musicians in England upon this subject. Half of 

 them did then approve of what is called the equal temperament. This 

 term will be explained hereafter. The other half, on the contrary, reprobated 

 that mode of tuning, as never satisfying the ear perfectly in any one key 

 whatsoever. 



A science is evidently in a very imperfect state, when the first proficients 

 in that science not only differ, but even hold decided opinions diametrically 

 opposite to each other. I determined, therefore, to make a careful and me- 

 thodical investigation, and I can now communicate with particular satisfaction 

 the result to the public. 



An ingenious and useful tuning instrument, called a monochord, has long 

 since been invented, by means of which the relation between the lengths of strings 

 or wires which produce different musical sounds can be accurately ascertained. 



When a string or wire of uniform thickness is reduced in length, it yields a 

 sharper sound, provided that the tension of the wire be not altered. 



If a string or wire of uniform thickness, stretched on a well constructed 

 monochord, be reduced to one half of its original length ; then, that one half 

 will yield the sound of that higher note which is scientifically termed the perfect 

 octave, provided that the tension of the wire be not altered. If, for example, 

 the length of an uniform wire be thirty inches, and be so stretched as to yield 

 the same sound as that note, for instance, which is commonly termed the first 

 bass C ; then, in order for that same wire, under the same tension, to give the 

 exact sound of the C next above, which is termed the middle C, the length of the 



t This interesting treatise by Earl Stanhope has been printed in Stereotype ; and having 

 been favoured by his Lordship with the use of the plates, we are enabled to lay it before our 

 reail<-i« entire, and iii the shape in which it originally appeared. This* circumstance accounts 

 for tlie want of uniformity in the margins of our present Number ; which, however, is more tuau 

 Mapi united by the accuracy of the tables, which might otherwise have been less perfect. We 

 acre i irthi r to remark, that these pagea hav-- not been worked off at our common pre**, Mr. 

 mm M>s, ol the Stereotype Office, Duke Street, Lincoln's lun Fields, printed them for ms at the 

 iron press of Hie ueond construction, h)v< nted by Eabx Stanhope, and manufactured by iMr. 

 RMBfti M ai h, .k, oi Dean Street, Oxford Street. 



T 2 (3') 



