Music and Measuring

Abstract

The evolution of both science and engineering related to mechanics was profoundly influenced by music. In particular, musical instruments evolved dramatically during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, including pipe organs, harpsichords, pianofortes, and violins. In turn, the evolution of these instruments helped to pave the way for an understanding of the production and propagation of sound, a problem in mechanics. During the same period of time, the accurate measurements of both distance and time became important. For example, in order to measure longitude on the Earth’s surface, it was necessary to develop a device for measuring time that was not affected by inertial effects onboard a ship. These two problems in mechanics were resolved during this period of time.

It is so characteristic, that just when the mechanics of [musical] reproduction are so vastly improved, there are fewer and fewer people who know how the music should be played.

Ludwig Littgenstein (1889–1951).