376 



Mr. R. H, M. Bosanquet on the 



otherwise with the deviations of the other intervals of the scale from the 

 values to which Europeans are accustomed. 



Sijstem of 22. 



Interval. Difference of Units. Interval. Exact interval. 



r Fifth •) 



Fourth } and I 9 4-9091 4-9805 



I Octave J 



r Fourth ] 



Major tone I and L 4 2-1818 2-0391 



I Fifth J 



r Third "J 



Minor tone < and I 3 1-6363 1*8240 



I Major tone J 



r Third •) 



Major semitone I and I 2 1-0909 1-1174 



I Fourth J 



r Fifth ] 



Minor third < and I 6 3-2727 3-1564 



I Third J 



r Major third ] 



Minor semitone .... < and V 1 -5454 -7067 

 I Minor third J 



In regarding these numbers we must remember that, as far as Euro- 

 pean musicians are concerned, the deviation from equal temperament is 

 the most important thing in a melodic point of view ; and this is expressed 

 in every case by the notation adopted for the intervals. Intervals which 

 deviate widely from equal temperament sound out of tune to the Euro- 

 pean ear ; and, as harmony is not employed, the justification which deri- 

 vation from perfect concords is felt to give in harmony has no oppor- 

 tunity of asserting itself. 



The only method by which it will be possible to make reliable investi- 

 gations on the intervals practically used in India will be to provide some 

 instrument suitable for manipulating the system of 22 divisions in the 

 octave, and then to compare its intervals with those given by the Indian 

 musicians. It will thus be possible to find out what is the extent of the 

 tempering, if any, which they employ. The education of the European 

 ear is as yet so imperfect that no reliance can be placed on estimations of 

 intervals, other than integral numbers of equal temperament semitones, 

 if made by ear only, even with skilled musicians. The habit of estimating 

 fractions of intervals numerically by ear is completely uncultivated among 

 us ; and the value to be set on the dicta of casual European observers 

 is in consequence little or nothing. 



