Rameau sought music’s foundation in three fundamental harmonics generated by a sounding string: the octave (2nd), twelfth (3rd), and seventeenth (5th). For him the ‘triple geometric progression’ (harmonics 1-3-9-27-81) as shown in this diagram formed the basis of diatonic melody. Here, the major scale ‘ut re mi fa sol…’ is supported by bass notes that progress by intervals of a fifth: 'ut sol ut fa ut…' <br><br><b>Author:</b> Jean-Philippe Rameau <br>
<b>Title:</b><i> Démonstration du principe de l'harmonie </i>[Demonstration of the principle of harmony] (Paris, 1752) <br>
<b>Shelfmark:</b> <a href="https://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/1nnjft8/44CAM_ALMA21606041220003606"> D.16.29</a> <br>
<b>Provenance: </b> Formerly owned by Isaac Milner (1750–1820)