MELODY, in Music, such a pleasing succession of musical sounds, as was by the earlitst writers on music called lhamoxx, (sec that article,) a term which now is exclusively applied to denote the pleasing effects of a proper selection of sounds heard together at the same time. In correct performances by a choir of good voices, or by a band of PERFECT Instruments, making Perfect HAnimoxy, (see these articles,) such as violins, violon cellos, Sic. or a Listonian or ECHARMONIC Organ, are capable of producing, when skilfully played, a consider able number of the leaps or steps of the melody in such performances are necessarily tempered, or made a small quantity larger or smaller, than that exact quantity which each of such steps or intervals must have when introduced in harmony ; that is, when the limiting sounds of such intervals are heard together at the same instant. A nice and well practised car for music, will doubtless perceive the temperament of the melody of which we are speaking, and can hardly fail, on first hearing and considering them, during an enharmonic performance. to consider them as defects, and wish for
their being avoided. Every attempt, however, to do so, by removing the temperaments from the melody to the harmony, is accompanied by so much interruption and debasement from the beats, by which such temper ed harmonies are accompanied, as to produce convic tion that the harmony ought, in all instances, to be kept perfect ; and the temperaments, by which unavoidably all music in parts is attended, must be thi own entirely into the leaps of the melody, where no heats or beatings will be found to accompany their use. See this subject further discussed in the Philosophical Magazine, xxvii. p. 314. (e)