Conversational harmony in the 17th century

Abstract

In France, conversation reached its golden age in the 17^th century with the rise of salons and scholarly societies. Authors of the time, such as Scudéry, Faret, or Méré, established the rules of this art of speaking, conceived in contrast to official rhetoric. Their doctrines often draw parallels with music to describe the canons of speech, which many considered in comparison with singing and harmony. In this article, we explore the presence and functions of music in the main eloquence treaties of the era, aiming to demonstrate its significance in the flourishing of conversation in the 17^th century.