The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-26

ascertained by studying the pitch Of their
note, compared from the tuning fork.
Ii will be remembered that all musical
tone Is produced By the periodic vibrations
OF sonorous body, the rapidity giving the
note or pitch and the amplitude of vibra-
tion giving the volume or loudness OF the
note. This is well illustrated by sounding
glasses or the finger bowl, when the moist
ened nnger running around the edge pro-
oucas a clear tone. By filling the bowl more
or less with water we shorten or enlarge the
vibrating part Of the glass and so Increase
OF diminish the rapidity of vibration, and
raising or lowering the pitch. DR.. Franklin,
In his sleepless fertility IN scientific research,
invented q harmonica on this principle
Tho sonorous glasses of different sizes re-
VolVe In water, and the fingers press against
one ana another glass result In quite a
musical production.
What Is true Of size Of vibratory surface
10 glasses or metal as affecting the high or
low rate Is likewise true Of the highest OF
the air column In wind instrument. In
this instrument the man standing blows
across the opening Of the hollow box, while
the actor sitting on the stage works the
plunger that lengtbens or shoreeus the air
column; IN other words, plays the tune.
One Is really the bellows and the other the
performer. H
Twenty vibrations 30 the second produce
the lowest audible note, while they may in-
crease TO 10000, which may still be heard a.
a shrill penetrating whistle
WHAT CONSTITUTES MUSIC.
Now, it is this vibration, impaired 30 The
air which breaks iu little waves upon the
ear, that constitutes music. We think of 10 as
asuccesston Of sweet tones 1t Is succession
OF different length vibrations. It Is a famil-
lar TACT that when o note Is sounded
on violin the piaoo string Of the COR
responding note begins to vibrate. The
violin makes TIE piano respond In sympathy.
In this lies the whole secret of listening
to music. The auditory nerve in the ear
consists OF bundle Of minute hbers, each
OF which ends In what might be called q
little sounding board. Each fiber Is tuned
TO separate tone. and when the violin
70 rhe piano strings-each vibrases 10
sympathy TO the note to which IL is tuned
and Is perfect reproduction of che violin.
There is In Germany an old legend Of
musician who boosted he could destroy a
heavy stone bridge without touching it.
Challenged, he took his violin and sounded
on one string, and kept this up continuous
~ until the arches began TO tremble and at
last fell In. The constant vibration Of one
tone, sympathetically responded to by the
stone arches, pushed on them, so to speak,
until they tumbled down. Believe it or
not, the principle is true. A vibration that
is irregular In the number of beats to the
second produces dIscordant noise; one that
rs regular or periodic produces musical
tone, and IL is this regularity which, for
some reason In our nature, we know not
why, causes pleasurable sensation.
The national museum has had prepared a
catalogue Of musical instruments which
now numbers 1000 names. Not that there
are that many distinct kinds of Instruments,
but in variety OF special forms used by diff
ferent races Of men, and at different times,
ancient and modern, they are probably
greatly In excess OF that number, such Is
the interest taken by mankind and the
happiness derived from the gentle art of
melody.