what does "scales"mean?
The forms were filed; the medical examiner and the JP, meanwhile, had lurched off history's stage. Father Cain, however, had remained. He had dodged ahead of the procession in the corridor and stationed himself on the loading dock. He continued to vibrate with prayers. Over the past half-hour he had scored a complex litany—scales, harmonics, and full chords of benedictions: Cum spiritu tuo sursum corda; Dominus vobiscum; Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro; Dignum et justum est—and he was standing between the emergency area entrance and Oneal's spotless vehicle awaiting his cue.