Apollo or Dionysus? Music and the growth of knowledge -- A conjunction of concepts: music and the emergence of probability -- Making inferences: music and the mechanisation of logic -- The ovum as initial datum: Harvey, starting points and creativity -- On the stretch: Hobbes, mechanics and the shaking palsy -- Blowing the organ: Willis, hyrdo-pneumatics and hierarchy -- The science of music to 1830 -- Music as matter in motion -- Music as unfolding life -- The problem of "Musical ear".