Proportions in ancient and medieval music

Ferreira Manuel Pedro

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Proportions in ancient and medieval music

Manuel Pedro Ferreira

pp. 1-25

Abstract

This paper deals with a particular mode of thought embedded in both Ancient and Medieval music theory: a mathematical bent stemming from the idea that Music, based on proportional relationships which embody Number, is an audible symbol of a God-given ontological order. This mode of thought influenced the aesthetics of the Ancients and had a crucial impact on the rationalization of musical composition in the late Middle Ages¹.

Publication details

Published in:

Assayag Gerard, Feichtinger Hans Georg, Rodrigues Jose Francisco (2002) Mathematics and music: a Diderot mathematical forum. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 1-25

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-04927-3_1

Full citation:

Ferreira Manuel Pedro (2002) „Proportions in ancient and medieval music“, In: G. Assayag, H. Feichtinger & J. Rodrigues (eds.), Mathematics and music, Dordrecht, Springer, 1–25.