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Library/Codex Madrid II/f 54v-f 55r

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Codex Madrid II — f 54v-f 55r

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Biblioteca Nacional de España, Madrid

(a sinistra, dall'alto:)

D'armonia.

D'una caduta d'un'acqua di fonte se ne facci un'armonia, che conponga una piva co' molte consonanze e boci.

Fermereno i nostri vasi di terra, di poi il corso dell'acqua20 ch'essce de' vasi mova una rota dentata nell'albero21 suo. Li quali denti apra[n] le canne dell'acqua che cade ne' vasi, di mano in mano, secondo il lor bisogno, come fa la mano sopra li tassti dell'organo. E ancora sia adattata che ssi possa sonar con mano. Domanda messer Marcello, del sono fatto con acqua da Vetruvio.

(a destra della figura in basso:)

Vole infine essere in modo di tastarne d'organo, acciò che locando un tasto e' s'alzi l'oposita sua[1] parte e apra la canna[2] dell'acqua.[3]

[1] A sua precede co cancellato.

[2] Il ms. ha canno.

[3] Cf. Ms. L: “Fassi un armonia colle diverse cadute d'acqua, come vedesti all fonte di Rimini, come vedessti addi 8 agosto 1502.”

Ecco finalmente la spiegazione di questo passo misterioso, oggetto di varie interpretazioni.

(on the left, from the top:)

On harmony. From the fall of a spring's water let there be made a harmony that composes a bagpipe (piva) with many consonances and voices. We shall set up our earthen vessels; then the flow of the water that issues from the vessels moves a toothed wheel on its shaft. Whose teeth open the pipes of the water that falls into the vessels, one after another, according to their need, as the hand does upon the keys of the organ. And let it also be arranged so that it can be played by hand. Ask messer Marcello about the sound made with water by Vitruvius.

(to the right of the lower figure:)

It needs, finally, to be in the manner of pressing organ keys, so that, on pressing a key, its opposite part rises and opens the pipe of the water. [Editorial notes: (¹ Before 'sua' a cancelled 'co'. (² The manuscript has 'canno'. (³ Cf. Ms. L: 'A harmony is made with the various falls of water, as you saw at the fountain of Rimini, as you saw on 8 August 1502.' Here at last is the explanation of this mysterious passage, the object of various interpretations.]

A water-organ: harmony from falling water

A toothed wheel opens water-pipes like organ keys, driven by a fountain's fall

Machines & Devices Hydraulics

Folio 55 recto, headed 'On harmony', proposes an instrument that makes music from falling water, a bagpipe-like sound of many consonances and voices. Water issuing from earthen vessels turns a toothed wheel whose teeth open water-pipes in turn, exactly as a hand presses the keys of an organ, and the device can also be played by hand. A small gear-and-shaft mechanism is sketched beside the text; Leonardo notes to ask messer Marcello about the water-sound described by Vitruvius, and an editorial note links the passage to the fountain of Rimini seen on 8 August 1502.

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Toothed wheel opening water-pipes like organ keys

Earthen vessels are fixed, and the water flowing out of them turns a toothed wheel on its shaft. The teeth open the pipes through which water falls into the vessels, one after another as needed, just as a hand works organ keys; the small wheel-and-shaft drawing beside the text shows the mechanism, which can also be played by hand.

Harmony composed from the fall of spring water

From the fall of a spring's water a harmony is to be composed, a bagpipe of many consonances and voices. Leonardo cites the water-sound of Vitruvius and, in an accompanying note, the varied falls of water at the fountain of Rimini observed on 8 August 1502.

Reader's Edition — described with AI from the e-Leo transcription.