Copyright © 2008 by Anthony Ashton Allright reserved, No part of this book may be reproduced or teamied in any form or by any means, elctoni or mechanical ieluding phococopying, recording, oe by any information storage and retneral tem, without penminion in wnting frm the Pur ‘Oniginaly published in Wales by Wooden Books Lain 2003; ist publihed inthe United States of American 2003 by ‘Walker Pblshing Company, In. Published simultaneously in Canada by Ftzheney and Whites ‘Markham, Onaiio CSR ATS Prioted on recyled paper For tfiemition about permton to reprctce selections fom his book, se o Permisions, Walker & Company, #5 Hon Sree, New York, New York 10014 inary of Congres Catal gng-o-Publition Dats Ashcon, Anthony. Hamonogaph a val gide tothe mathematics of music / ‘Anthony Aston. ISDN 0-8027-1408-9 (lk. paps) 1, Hamanogeaphs. 2. Muse theory—Mathemais, 1. Te Qc228 3.478 2008 yaL2—keal 200082260 ‘Visit Waller a Company's Web site st wor walerbooks com Printed in the United Stes of Amerie HARMONOGRAPH ‘A VISUAL GUIDE TO THE MATHEMATICS OF MUSIC Anthony Ashton ‘nse an = Walker ¢ Company New YorkDeeictedt olin, An a, ad Ege CONTENTS Towoducion The Diacovery of Harmony “The Mosochord of Craton ‘Overtoes and ners Whole Tenet and Halfiones Arangingehe Harmonies Lisajous Figures ‘The Pendulum Two Hazmonogrphs Simple Unison Nese Union Roary Unit: ‘The Lien Ocawe—24 The Rotary Ocuive—21 “The Lael Fith—32 ‘The Roary ith—32 ‘The Fourth 43, Further Harmonics Amplinude ‘Tuning Troubles Equal Temperament The Kaedophone Chad Paes Resonance Picttes Appendix A: Tung, and Intervals Appendix B: Modes nd Equations ‘Appendix C: Tables of Patterns ‘Appendix D: Buln» HarmonogmphINTRODUCTION Many of the drawings inthis hook were produced by a simple scientific instrument known as a harmonograph, an invention zcributed to a Professor Blackburn in 1844, Toward the end of the nineteenth century these instruments seem to have been jn vogue. Vietorian gentlemen and ladies would attend soiées for conversasiones, gathering around the instruments and fexclaiming in wonder as they watched the beautifal and mysterions drawings appear. A shop in London sold portable models that could be folded into a case and taken to a purty ‘There may well be some of chese instruments hidden in attics all over the world From the moment I fist aw drawings of this kind 1 was hooked. Not only hecause of their strange beauty, but be cause they seemed to have a meaning—a meaning tha became clearer and deeper as I found out how to make and operate 2 harmonograph. The instrament draws pitures of musical harmonies, inking sight and sound However, before going any Further I fel should isue a health waming. Ifyou too are tempted co fllow this path, beware! Te is both facinating and time-consuming, have acknowledged my debt to the book Hannonic Vibrations It was coming actos this book in a library soon afer the end of the second world wae thit introduced me tothe harmonograph Seeing thatthe book had been published by a fim of scientific instrument makers on Wigmore Street I went one day to se if 1