Analogy of Colour and Music^*

Abstract

M. RADAU, in his “Acoustique,” says:—“The disdain with which most musicians repel the invasion of their domain by the exact sciences is to a certain extent justified.” I venture to think it is very much justified, since little has been accomplished in aid of a technical theory of music by scientific men from Pythagoras down to Helmholtz. The highest service the mathematicians have rendered was to assist in destroying the application of their own theories by establishing the universally received system of “equal temperament.” Now that the “effects” of colours are falling under the manipulation of mathematicians, could not the learned who are occupying your columns with the old discussion on “ratios” condescend to receive some warning from the history of “speculative music”?