Pietro d'Abano, Expositio problematum (XIX)

Pietro d'Abano (c. 1257-1315) est l'un des principaux commentateurs des Problemata aristoteliciens (c. 250 avant J.-Chr.) dont la section XIX traite de divers aspects du son et de la musique vocale et instrumentale. Redige autour de 1300 et largement diffuse aux XIVe et XVe siecles, le commentaire des 50 problemes de cette section developpe un discours novateur sur la perception du chant et de la musique instrumentale et leurs effets. Partage entre raison et sensibilite, il est domine par une approche physique et psycho-physiologique du phenomene sonore et de sa perception qui rompt avec le discours philosophico-mathematique herite de Boece. Le texte de base de la presente edition est celui de l'edition de Venise (1519). Il a ete revise a la lumiere d'un ensemble de sources manuscrites, dont les plus anciennes. Pietro d'Abano (c. 1257-1315) is one of the principal commentators on the Aristotelian Problemata (c. 250 BC), of which section XIX deals with various aspects of sound, and vocal and instrumental music. Written around 1300 and widely distributed in the 14th and 15th centuries, the commentary on the 50 problems in this section develops an innovative discourse on the perception of singing and instrumental music and their effects. Divided between reason and sensitivity, the commentary is dominated by a physical and psycho-physiological approach to the phenomenon of sound and its perception, which breaks with the philosophical-mathematical discourse inherited from Boethius. The basic text of the present edition is the Venice edition (1519). It has been revised in the light of a collection of manuscript sources, including the oldest.