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Cyclopedia on equal divisions

🔗Gene Ward Smith <gwsmith@svpal.org>

4/22/2005 11:26:20 AM

According to the 1786 edition of the "Cyclopedia: or, an Universal
Dictionary of Arts And Sciences", the EDOs which had been considered
were 12, 19, 31, 43, 50, and 55, along with 53. Hence, we can consider
ourselves covered to that extent. Jorgensen says "During the years
1781 to 1786, mathematicians and theorists were determined that
English speaking musicains should adopt one or another of the equal
(geometrical) temperaments for common practice. Their efforts were a
failure." Of course they won in the end.