8753Century III.
likewiſe of an Angular Pipe;
and ſee what will be the effects of theſe ſeveral
Sounds. And ſo again of a Circular Pipe: As if you take a Pipe perfect
round, and make a hole whereinto you ſhall blow, and another hole not
far from that; but with a traverſe or ſtop between them: So that your
breath may go the Round of the Circle, and come forth at the ſecond hole.
You may try likewiſe Percuſſions of ſolid Bodies of ſeveral Figures: As
Globes, Flats, Cubes, Croſſes, Triangles, & c. And their Combinations; as Flat
againſt Flat, and Convex againſt Convex, and Convex againſt Flat, & c. And mark
well the diverſities of the Sounds. Try alſo the difference in ſound of ſeve-
ral Craſſitudes of hard Bodies percuſſed, and take knowledge of the diver-
ſities of the ſounds. I my ſelf have tried, That a Bell of Gold yieldeth an ex-
cellent ſound, not inferior to that of Silver or Braß, but rather better. Yet
we ſee that a piece of money of Gold, ſoundeth far more flat than a piece of
money of Silver.
Sounds. And ſo again of a Circular Pipe: As if you take a Pipe perfect
round, and make a hole whereinto you ſhall blow, and another hole not
far from that; but with a traverſe or ſtop between them: So that your
breath may go the Round of the Circle, and come forth at the ſecond hole.
You may try likewiſe Percuſſions of ſolid Bodies of ſeveral Figures: As
Globes, Flats, Cubes, Croſſes, Triangles, & c. And their Combinations; as Flat
againſt Flat, and Convex againſt Convex, and Convex againſt Flat, & c. And mark
well the diverſities of the Sounds. Try alſo the difference in ſound of ſeve-
ral Craſſitudes of hard Bodies percuſſed, and take knowledge of the diver-
ſities of the ſounds. I my ſelf have tried, That a Bell of Gold yieldeth an ex-
cellent ſound, not inferior to that of Silver or Braß, but rather better. Yet
we ſee that a piece of money of Gold, ſoundeth far more flat than a piece of
money of Silver.
The Harp hath the concave, not along the ſtrings, but acroſs the ſtrings;
11223. and no Inſtrument hath the ſound ſo melting and prolonged, as the Iriſh Harp.
So as I ſuppoſe, that if a Virginal were made with a double Concave; the
one all the length as the Virginal hath, the other at the end of the ſtrings, as
the Harp hath; it muſt needs make the ſound perfecter, and not ſo ſhallow,
and jarring. You may try it without any Sound-board along, but onely
Harp wiſe, at one end of the ſtrings; or laſtly, with a double concave, at
each end of the ſtrings one.
11223. and no Inſtrument hath the ſound ſo melting and prolonged, as the Iriſh Harp.
So as I ſuppoſe, that if a Virginal were made with a double Concave; the
one all the length as the Virginal hath, the other at the end of the ſtrings, as
the Harp hath; it muſt needs make the ſound perfecter, and not ſo ſhallow,
and jarring. You may try it without any Sound-board along, but onely
Harp wiſe, at one end of the ſtrings; or laſtly, with a double concave, at
each end of the ſtrings one.
THere is an apparent diverſity between the Species Viſible and Audible, in
22224. this. That the Viſible doth not mingle in the Medium, but the Audible
33Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Mixture of
Sounds. doth. For if we look abroad, we ſee Heaven, a number of Stars, Trees,
Hills, Men, Beaſts, at once; and the Species of the one, doth not confound
the other: But if ſo many Sounds come from ſeveral parts, one of them
would utterly confound the other. So we ſee, That Voices or Conſorts of
Muſick do make a harmony by mixture, which Colours do not. It is true
nevertheleſs, that a great light drownoth a ſmaller, that it cannot be ſeen;
as the Sun that of a Gloworm, as well as a great ſound drowneth a leſſer.
And I ſuppoſe likewiſe, that if there were two Lanthorns of Glaſs, the
one a Crimſio, and the other an Azure, and a Candle within either of
them, thoſe coloured lights, would mingle and caſt upon a White Paper, a
Purple colour. And even in colours, they yield a faint and weak mixture;
for White Walls make rooms more lightſome, than Black, & c. But the
cauſe of the Confuſion in Sounds, and the Inconfuſion in Species Viſible, is,
For that the Sight worketh in right Lines, and maketh ſeveral Cones; and
ſo there can be no Coincidencein the Eye, or Viſual Point: But Sounds that
move in oblick and arcuate Lines, muſt needs encounter, and diſturb the one
the other.
22224. this. That the Viſible doth not mingle in the Medium, but the Audible
33Experiments
in Conſort,
touching the
Mixture of
Sounds. doth. For if we look abroad, we ſee Heaven, a number of Stars, Trees,
Hills, Men, Beaſts, at once; and the Species of the one, doth not confound
the other: But if ſo many Sounds come from ſeveral parts, one of them
would utterly confound the other. So we ſee, That Voices or Conſorts of
Muſick do make a harmony by mixture, which Colours do not. It is true
nevertheleſs, that a great light drownoth a ſmaller, that it cannot be ſeen;
as the Sun that of a Gloworm, as well as a great ſound drowneth a leſſer.
And I ſuppoſe likewiſe, that if there were two Lanthorns of Glaſs, the
one a Crimſio, and the other an Azure, and a Candle within either of
them, thoſe coloured lights, would mingle and caſt upon a White Paper, a
Purple colour. And even in colours, they yield a faint and weak mixture;
for White Walls make rooms more lightſome, than Black, & c. But the
cauſe of the Confuſion in Sounds, and the Inconfuſion in Species Viſible, is,
For that the Sight worketh in right Lines, and maketh ſeveral Cones; and
ſo there can be no Coincidencein the Eye, or Viſual Point: But Sounds that
move in oblick and arcuate Lines, muſt needs encounter, and diſturb the one
the other.
The ſweeteſt and beſt Harmony is, when every Part or Inſtrument is
44225. not heard by it ſelf, but a conflation of them all, which requireth to ſtand
ſome diſtance off. Even as it is in the mixture of perfumes, or the taking of
the ſmells of ſeveral Flowers in the Air.
44225. not heard by it ſelf, but a conflation of them all, which requireth to ſtand
ſome diſtance off. Even as it is in the mixture of perfumes, or the taking of
the ſmells of ſeveral Flowers in the Air.
The diſpoſition of the Air, in other qualities, except it be joyned with
55226. Sound, hath no great operation upon Sounds: For whether the Air be
lightſome or dark, hot or cold, quiet or ſtirring, (except it be with noiſe)
ſweet ſmelling, or ſtinking, or the like; it importeth not much. Some petty
alteration or difference it may make.
55226. Sound, hath no great operation upon Sounds: For whether the Air be
lightſome or dark, hot or cold, quiet or ſtirring, (except it be with noiſe)
ſweet ſmelling, or ſtinking, or the like; it importeth not much. Some petty
alteration or difference it may make.