Degrees, or Tones Musicall

THIS, of all Confonances, is the moft grateful, and acceptable to the Ear.

this is why it is the prime and ruling Confonance in all Tunes; as alfo from it do the Modes (page 55) proceed, as follows from the 7 Præconſiderable: for fince, as it is manifeſt from what hath preceded, whether we extract the perfection of Confonances from Divifion, or from Numbers (By Numbers; as in the fift Fig. 10, by Division, as of the line A B, p. 14).

There can properly be found only three Confonances, among which the fifth hath the middle place; this (certainly) is it which refounds in the ears not fo ſharply as a Ditone, nor fo languid as a Diapaſſon, but the moſt pleaſant of all others.

From the ſecond Figure it appears, that there are three kinds of a Fifth (Viz. the Eighth, Fifth, and Ditone as before), where the Twelfth poſſeſſes the mean place, which we may therefore affirm to be the moſt perfect Fifth: from whence it follows, that we might ufe no other Confonance in Muſick, if it were not, as we inferred in the laſt Præconſiderable, that Variety was neceſſary to Delectation.

If it be objected, that, in fome cafes, an Eighth may be fet alone in Muſick, without any Variety; as, for Example, when two voyces ſing the fame Tune, one more acute than the other in an Eighth: but the fame doth not even in a Fifth, and therefore it follows, that an Eighth ought to be accounted the moſt grateful of all Confonances, rather than a Fifth.

A COMPENDIUM (Page 20)

We answer, that, from this Instance, our Assertion is rather confirmed, than infirmed.

An Eighth is so set because it comprehends an Unison in it self.

And so, those 2 voices resound in the eare as one; which happens not in a Fifth, whose Terms are more different among themselves, and therefore possess, and exercise the Hearing more fully;

From whence a certain weariness and loathing would arise forthwith, if it were set alone, and without Variety in Tunes. This may be exemplified thus; we should be sooner weary if we were constantly fed with Sugar, and Sweat-meats, than if with bread alone; which every man will allow not, in any proportion, comparable for sweetness and blandishment of the palate, to Sugar.