Musical transposition calculator, in circular slide-rule format
- maker:
- Wilson, J.
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BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseMusical transposition calculator, brass, in circular slide-rule format. Front 3/4 view of whole object on dark grey
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Musical transposition calculator, in circular slide-rule format, by J. Wilson, England, 1820
The first is by J Wilson and is dated 1820. The second is not signed and dates from the mid 19th century. Because all the notes in a scale have a fixed frequency ratio, music can be ‘transposed’ up or down the various keys. These little devices are like circular adding machines; moving the tonic, or fundamental note, a certain number of tones up or down moves all the notes in the scale by the same interval, so music can be rewritten in a different key. The second calculator has the tonic at the top and reveals the notes in the appropriate major scale.
Details
- Category:
- Mathematics
- Object Number:
- 1987-534
- type:
- slide rule
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- calculator
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- calculator
- credit:
- Christie's South Kensington Limited
