MUSIC. 289 



Discord. 



If their lengths be such that they never describe 

 the arcs of vibration together, but perpetually cross 

 each other in their oscillations, then their sounds 

 are jarring and unconsentaneous, and thus discord 

 is produced. 



Scottish Music. 



The Scottish airs of genuine character are composed 

 on a scale which does not contain the fourth and se- 

 venth of the diatonic scale of music. From this is 

 derived the peculiarity by which they are immediately 

 recognized. 



Beating Time. 



An attentive person can beat time pretty accurately 

 for one minute, but it is very difficult to be correct 

 for a greater length of time. 



Stammering. 



A drunken man, or a person afflicted with St. Vi- 

 tus's dance, can run, although he cannot walk or 

 stand still. In the same manner, a stammerer can 

 sing, which is continuous motion, although he cannot 

 speak, which is interrupted motion. 



Musical Figures resulting from Sounds. 



Cover the mouth of a wide glass having a foot- 

 stalk with a thin sheet of membrane or vegetable 

 paper, over which scatter a layer of fine sand. The 

 vibrations excited in the air by the sound of a musi- 

 cal instrument held within a few inches of the mem- 

 brane, will cause the sand on its surface to form 

 regular lines and figures with astonishing celerity, 

 which vary with the sound produced, affecting a par- 

 ticular mode of division according to the number of 

 vibrations. 



