Helmholtz: Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen...

Subject: Helmholtz: Lehre von den Tonempfindungen
From: Wolfgang
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 09:43 AM

Hermann von Helmholtz's classical book about the physics of music theory Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen als Physiologische Grundlage für die Theorie der Musik (On the Sensations of Tone as a Physiological Basis for the Theory of Music) is available full text online in the language it was written originally.

click

I have not found an English online version so the usefulness of this link may be restricted to only a few of us.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Helmholtz: Lehre von den Tonempfindungen
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 10:49 AM

You think? Jeez, I wish I'd kept current with my German. Sounds like an enthralling read.....       Tw

Subject: RE: Helmholtz: Lehre von den Tonempfindungen
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 01:28 PM

I like the way it's set up, with both text and graphics versions of the book. I'll have to pick up a new vocabulary to read it - I've never had the opportunity to learn German musical terms in such detail.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Helmholtz: Lehre von den Tonempfindungen
From: Wolfgang
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 01:33 PM

It helps me too, for I only own the English translation of that book and often have pondered how one expression may have read in the author's language.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Helmholtz: Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen......
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:12 PM

The Dover reprint of the English version of the book is not particularly expensive. I paid $15 for it in 1996, and the last time I looked it was still on their list, although the price has crept up a little.

The Dover edition, or at least the one I have, is the "Second English Translation," revised and updated to the Fourth (last) 1877 German edition, and does contain lots of footnotes that probably weren't in the original(s).

It is, indeed, the "classic" treatment of the physics of musical tone production. Although it's not particularly technical, including only elementary math, this is NOT A BOOK (IMO) to tackle in a language with which one is not fairly fluent. (i.e., IT'S REALLY BIG).

One of my favorites, and frequently consulted.

John

Subject: RE: Helmholtz: Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen......
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:07 PM

Try Athanasius Kircher's "Musurgia Universalis".

Not only is it REALLY BIG (about twice the size of Helmholtz's book), it's Latin or nothing.

Subject: RE: Helmholtz: Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen......
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 08:08 PM

Guest JC -

But compared to Helmholtz, Kircher was just "philosophizing about music," whereas Helmholtz took it apart and put the pieces back together again.

Kircher is quite important, and much neglected, for the historical significance of his works in a number of fields; while Helmholtz isn't really history yet. Helmholtz is mostly good physics, today, by modern standards, and is a useful sourcebook for people who want to understand musical sound production as it's done now with modern instruments.

The Helmholtz book isn't that large, only about 580 pages in the Dover English translation (if you read all the footnotes). It's just more than I'd suggest someone should try to digest while struggling with an unfamiliar language - at least prior to understanding what it's about in their own language.

John