Harmony universal
Harmonie universelle (also Harmonicorum libri ) from 1636 is a musicological work by Marin Mersenne in which music is classified in the universal whole of creation. Its original French title is "Harmonie universelle, contenant la théorie et la pratique de la musique". In addition to discussing theoretical and scientific aspects of music, Mersenne also devotes himself to practical problems, such as the rules of composition.
In the 17th chapter he describes the instruments of his time and arranges them according to their variety. He does not go into each instrument individually, but describes one instrument for a whole group of instruments. The addressees of his work were not only scientists, but also a generally interested public. Mersenne's treatise on the doctrine of affect is also special about Harmonie universelle, as was the case with Michael Praetorius in the Syntagma musicum of 1619 and later with Athanasius Kircher , Johann Mattheson and Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg .
Web links
- Scan of the original print
- Wolfgang Köhler: The wind instruments from the "Harmonie Universelle" by Marin Mersenne. Translation and commentary of the “Livre cinquiesme des instruments à vent” from the “Traité des instruments”. Moeck, Celle 1987, ISBN 3-87549-029-0 ( Also : Bochum, Univ., Diss .: “Livre cinquiesme des instruments à vent” by Marin Mersenne. Appreciation, translation, commentary. )