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Mathematics, musical
(835 words)

1. Definition and subject

Until the early 18th century, music was counted as one of the mathematical sciences within the artes liberales. It follows that, unlike the modern term music, the medieval and early modern concept of musica did not denote an “organized acoustic design” [3. 15–17], but a form of reflection. The musicus, a learned theoretician, was distinct from the active, practical cantor (Musician). At the sam…

Cite this page
Heesch, Florian, “Mathematics, musical”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 28 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_023784>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190801



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