New System of Musical Theory

The New System of Musical Theory (French: Nouveau système de musique théorique) published in 1726, is the second treatise on musical theory written by the composer Jean-Philippe Rameau.

[1][2] Rameau wrote the work four years after the publication of his first theoretical work, the Treatise on Harmony Reduced to its Natural Principles (French: Traité de l'harmonie réduite à ses principes naturels) (1722).

[3] However, some time after publishing his Treatise, Rameau became aware of the work of the scientist Joseph Sauveur who had described the phenomenon of overtones and codified the harmonic sequence scientifically.

[3] The title Rameau chose for his new work was taken from the title of Fontenelle's report to Royal Academy of Sciences on Sauveur's work (Sur un nouveau système de musique).

[4] The New System introduced some important new theoretical ideas, including geometric proportion and the concept of the subdominant.