A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Loulié, Etienne

by Gustave Chouquet

LOULIÉ, Etienne, protégé of Mlle. de Guise, and music-master, in the second half of the 17th century, is only known as the author of 'Eléments ou Principes de Musique' (Paris 1696), at the close of which is an engraving and description of his 'Chronometre.' Loulié was the first to attempt to indicate the exact tempo of a piece of music by means of an instrument beating the time. The one he invented took the minute as the unit, and went up to 72 degrees of rapidity; but being six feet in height was too cumbrous for general use. Nevertheless to Loulié belongs the merit of the idea which more than a century later was carried into practice by Maelzel.

[ G. C. ]