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4 National Music of the World.
the voice was tuned. It took me no small time and pains to verify this fact; and, but that it has been tested and attested again and again by others who could have no interest in maintaining a delusion, I should hesitate in offering it as testimony. I need not add, that now everything I hear passes through the process of translation.
To continue, as akin to the above speculations : the entire diapason question, in spite of the many recent attempts made to settle it, remains, and I venture to believe must .long, if not for ever remain, in a most unsatisfactory state. Even if an ancient instrument is at hand to appeal to—whether it be organ pipe, or tuning fork, or bell—with the view of proving this or that fact, as regards the intonation of a musical note, it has never been established that time and climate have nothing to do with the register; that the vibrations of metal and wood are the same, after a century of wear and tear has passed, as they were at its beginning. So far from this, when, in imitation of the French commission to report on and decide the question, a similar body of men of science and skilled musicians was convened in this country, a plain truth or two came out, showing how carefully dealt with every question of |
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