Note 29 — Chapter II

“The deepest tone of orchestra instruments is the E of the double-bass, with 41-1/4 vibrations. The new pianos and organs go generally as far as C1, with 33 vibrations; new grand pianos may reach A11, with 27-1/2 vibrations. In large organs a lower octave is introduced, reaching to C11, with 16-1/2 vibrations. But the musical character of all these tones under E is imperfect, because they are near the limit where the power of the ear to unite the vibrations to a tone ceases. In height the pianoforte reaches to aiv, with 3,520 vibrations, or sometimes to cv, with 4,224 vibrations. The highest note of the orchestra is probably the dv of the piccolo flute, with 4,752 vibrations.”—Helmholtz, “Tonempfindungen,” p. 30. In this notation we start from C, with 66 vibrations, calling the first lower octave C1, and the second C11; and calling the first highest octave c, the second c1, the third c11, the fourth c12, etc. In England the deepest tone, Mr. Macfarren informs me, is not E, but A, a fourth above it.