8854Natural Hiſtory;
But Sounds do diſturb and alter the one the other:
Sometimes the one
11227. drowning the other, and making it not heard; ſometimes the one jarring and
diſcording with the other, and making a conſuſion; ſometimes the one ming-
ling and compounding with the other, and making an harmony.
11227. drowning the other, and making it not heard; ſometimes the one jarring and
diſcording with the other, and making a conſuſion; ſometimes the one ming-
ling and compounding with the other, and making an harmony.
Two Voices of like loudneſs, will not be heard twice as far, as one of
22228. them alone; and two Candles of like light, will not make things ſeem twice
as far off, as one. The cauſe is profound, but it ſeemeth, that the Impreſſi-
ons from the objects of the Senſes, do mingle reſpectively, every one with
his kinde; but not in proportion, as is before demonſtrated: And the reaſon
may be, becauſe the firſt impreſſion, which is from Privative to Active, (as
from Silence to Noiſe, or from Darkneſs to Light,) is a greater degree, than
from leſs noiſe, to more noiſe, or from leſs light, to more light. And the
reaſon of that again may be, For that the Air, after it hath received a charge,
doth not receive a ſurcharge, or greater charge, with like appetite, as it
doth the firſt charge. As for the increaſe of Vertue generally, what propor-
tion it beareth to the increaſe of the Matter, it is a large Field, and to be
handled by it ſelf.
22228. them alone; and two Candles of like light, will not make things ſeem twice
as far off, as one. The cauſe is profound, but it ſeemeth, that the Impreſſi-
ons from the objects of the Senſes, do mingle reſpectively, every one with
his kinde; but not in proportion, as is before demonſtrated: And the reaſon
may be, becauſe the firſt impreſſion, which is from Privative to Active, (as
from Silence to Noiſe, or from Darkneſs to Light,) is a greater degree, than
from leſs noiſe, to more noiſe, or from leſs light, to more light. And the
reaſon of that again may be, For that the Air, after it hath received a charge,
doth not receive a ſurcharge, or greater charge, with like appetite, as it
doth the firſt charge. As for the increaſe of Vertue generally, what propor-
tion it beareth to the increaſe of the Matter, it is a large Field, and to be
handled by it ſelf.
ALL Reflexions Concurrent, do make Sounds greater;
but if the Body
33229. that createth, either the original Sound, or the Reflexion, be clean and
44Experiments
in Conſort,
touching
Meloration of
Sounds. ſmooth it maketh them ſweeter. Tryal may be made of a Lute or Vial, with
the Belly of poliſhed Braſs in ſtead of Wood. We ſee, that even in the open
Air, the Wire-ſtring is ſweeter than the ſtring of Guts. And we ſee, that for Re-
flexion, Water excelleth; as in Muſick near the Water, or in Eccho’s.
33229. that createth, either the original Sound, or the Reflexion, be clean and
44Experiments
in Conſort,
touching
Meloration of
Sounds. ſmooth it maketh them ſweeter. Tryal may be made of a Lute or Vial, with
the Belly of poliſhed Braſs in ſtead of Wood. We ſee, that even in the open
Air, the Wire-ſtring is ſweeter than the ſtring of Guts. And we ſee, that for Re-
flexion, Water excelleth; as in Muſick near the Water, or in Eccho’s.
It hath been tryed, that a Pipe, a little moiſtned on the inſide, but yet
55230. ſo as there be no drops leſt, maketh a more ſolemn ſound, than if the Pipe
were dry; but yet with a ſweet degree of Sibilation or Purling, as we touched
it before in the Title of Equality. The cauſe is, for that all things porous, be-
ing ſuperficially wet, and (as it were) between dry and wet, become a little
more even and ſmooth; but the Purling (which muſt needs proceed of In-
equality) I take to be bred between the ſmoothneſs of the inward Surſace
of the Pipe which is wet, and the reſt of the Wood of the Pipe, unto which
the wet cometh not, but it remaineth dry.
55230. ſo as there be no drops leſt, maketh a more ſolemn ſound, than if the Pipe
were dry; but yet with a ſweet degree of Sibilation or Purling, as we touched
it before in the Title of Equality. The cauſe is, for that all things porous, be-
ing ſuperficially wet, and (as it were) between dry and wet, become a little
more even and ſmooth; but the Purling (which muſt needs proceed of In-
equality) I take to be bred between the ſmoothneſs of the inward Surſace
of the Pipe which is wet, and the reſt of the Wood of the Pipe, unto which
the wet cometh not, but it remaineth dry.
In Froſty weather, Muſick within doors ſoundeth better;
which may
66231. be, by reaſon not of the diſpoſition of the Air, but of the Wood or String of
the Inſtrument, which is made more criſp, and ſo more porous and hollow;
and we ſee that Old Lutes ſound better than New, for the ſame reaſon: And ſo
do Lute-ſtrings that have been kept long.
66231. be, by reaſon not of the diſpoſition of the Air, but of the Wood or String of
the Inſtrument, which is made more criſp, and ſo more porous and hollow;
and we ſee that Old Lutes ſound better than New, for the ſame reaſon: And ſo
do Lute-ſtrings that have been kept long.
Sound is like wiſe meliorated by the mingling of open Air with pent Air:
77232. Therefore tryal may be made of a Lute or Vial with a double Belly, making
another Belly with a knot over the ſtring; yet ſo, as there be room enough
for the ſtrings, and room enough to play below that Belly. Tryal may be
alſo made of an Irish Harp, with a concave on both ſides, whereas it uſeth to
have it but on one ſide. The doubt may be, leſt it ſhould make too much re-
ſounding, whereby one Note would overtake another.
77232. Therefore tryal may be made of a Lute or Vial with a double Belly, making
another Belly with a knot over the ſtring; yet ſo, as there be room enough
for the ſtrings, and room enough to play below that Belly. Tryal may be
alſo made of an Irish Harp, with a concave on both ſides, whereas it uſeth to
have it but on one ſide. The doubt may be, leſt it ſhould make too much re-
ſounding, whereby one Note would overtake another.
If you ſing in the hole of a Drum, it maketh the ſinging more ſweet.
88233. And ſo I conceive it would, if it were a Song in Parts ſung into ſeveral Drums;
and for handſomneſs and ſtrangeneſs ſake, it would not be amiſs to have a
Curtain between the place where the Drums are, and the hearers.
88233. And ſo I conceive it would, if it were a Song in Parts ſung into ſeveral Drums;
and for handſomneſs and ſtrangeneſs ſake, it would not be amiſs to have a
Curtain between the place where the Drums are, and the hearers.
When a ſound is created in the Wind-Inſtrument, between the Breath and
99234. Air, yet if the ſound be communicate with a more equal Body of the
99234. Air, yet if the ſound be communicate with a more equal Body of the