Opinioni de' cantori antichi e moderni. English

The Opinions of the ancient Historians, on the Origin of Musick, are various. Pliny believes that Amphion was the Inventor of it; the Grecians maintain, that it was Dionysius; Polybius ascribes it to the Arcadians; Suidas and Boetius give the Glory entirely to Pythagoras; asserting, that from the Sound of three Hammers of different Weights at a Smith's Forge, he found out the Diatonick; after which Timotheus, the Milesian, added the [2] Chromatick, and Olympicus, or Olympus, the Enharmonick Scale. However, we read in holy Writ, that Jubal, of the Race of Cain, fuit Pater Canentium Citharâ & Organo, the Father of all such as handle the Harp and Organ; Instruments, in all Probability consisting of several harmonious Sounds; from whence one may infer, Musick to have had its Birth very soon after the World.