METRONOME. This ingenious instru ment was introduced about the year 1814, by John Maelzel (civil engineer and mechanician to the Emperor of Austria), for the purpose of determining the movement, i.e. the quick ness or slowness, of musical compositions. Of Maelzel's Metronome there are two kinds. The one is a pendulum kept in motion by a spring and wheelwork, and which ticks the vibrations : —the other is also a pendulum, but without any machinery, and acting only so long as the force of the impulse given shall last. The former, therefore, it will be obvious, is com plicated and expensive ; the latter is simple and cheap.
Much opposition was made to the use of this excellent instrument, when first intro duced ; but it is gradually coming into exten sive use.
Mr. Greaves of Sheffield has lately regis tered a very simple and cheap metronome. In size and form it resembles a small watch, and can be carried in the waistcoat pocket. It consists of a case containing a tape 40 inches long, which can be drawn out to any required length, and be there retained by a stop. The
extreme end of the tape being held by the finger and thumb, the case forms the bob of a pendulum, which may be swung to and fro. Instead of holding it between the finger and thumb, a small spring affords the means of attaching it to a pianoforte or a music stand. As all pendulums oscillate a certain number of times in a minute according to the length, the tape is drawn out more or less according as the oscillations are to be slow or quick; and this depends upon the tune of the piece of music. The tape has marks to indicate any number of oscillations per minute from 60 to 160 ; and it is also marked with those Italian words which serve to point out the quickness or slowness of a piece of music : such as presto, spiritoso, vivace, allegro, poco allegro, moderato, allegretto, andante, andantino, tar. ghetto, lento, largo, grave, adagio.