TUNE

, or Tone, in Music, is that property of sounds by which they come under the relation of acute and grave.

If two or more sounds be compared together in this relation, they are either equal or unequal in the degree of Tune: such as are equal, are called unisons. The unequal constitute what are called intervals, which are the differences of Tone between sounds.

Sonorous bodies are found to differ in Tone: 1st, According to the different kinds of matter; thus the sound of a piece of gold, is much graver than that of a piece of silver of the same shape and dimensions. 2d, According to the different quantities of the same matter in bodies of the same figure; as a solid sphere of brass of 1 foot diameter, sounds acuter than a sphere of brass of 2 feet diameter.

But the measures of Tone are only to be sought in the relations of the motions that are the cause of sound, which are most discernible in the vibration of chords. Now, in general, we find that in two chords, all things being equal, excepting the tension, the thickness, or the length, the Tones are different; which difference can only be in the velocity of their vibratory motions, by which they perform a different number of vibrations in the same time; as it is known that all the small vibrations of the same chord are performed in equal times. Now the frequenter or quicker those vibrations are, the more acute is the Tone; and the slower and fewer they are in the same space of time, by so much the more grave is the Tone. So that any given note of a Tune is made by one certain measure of velocity of vibrations, that is, such a certain number of vibrations of a chord or string, in such a certain space of time, constitutes a determinate Tone.

This theory is strongly supported by the best and latest writers on music, Holder, Malcolm, Smith, &c, both from reason and experience. Dr. Wallis, who owns it very reasonable, adds, that it is evident the degrees of acuteness are reciprocally as the lengths of the chords; though, he says, he will not positively affirm that the degrees of acuteness answer the number of vibrations, as their only true cause: but his diffidence arises from hence, that he doubts whether the thing has been sufficiently confirmed by experiment.

TUNNAGE. See Tonnage.

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Entry taken from A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary, by Charles Hutton, 1796.

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TSCHIRNHAUSEN (Ernfroy Walter)
TUBE
TUESDAY
TUMBREL
TUN
* TUNE
TURN
TWILIGHT
TYMPAN
TYR
TYSHAS