Charles Taylor's 1989 Christmas Lectures 3/5: Science, Strings and Symphonies
In his 3rd lecture, Charles Taylor explores how flat plates and hollow bodies work in amplifying sounds. All stringed instruments start out with very quiet string vibrations that need amplifying and we shall start by looking at way in which flat plates and hollow bodies work in amplifying sounds. Our exploration of musical instruments will cover two different groups that both use strings as their primary source of sound. First group uses plucking as way of setting strings in vibration and includes all fascinating instruments like lyres and lutes that have eventually led up to modern harps and guitars. Science has begun to contribute to our knowledge of way in which guitars work and computer techniques are now being used to show how top plate of guitar vibrates when string is plucked. Second group is one of largest families of instruments, bowed strings, which derive from quiet viols. Then came baroque violins, cellos and other related instruments. But as orchestras became larger and composers of symphonies and concertos demanded more powerful sound, baroque instruments were rebuilt to give our present day violins and cellos. Even great instruments of Antonio Stradivari are no longer in their original form. And yet there is still magic about them. Can science help to reveal secret of 'Strad'? How far can scientific methods complement skill of craftsman in making instruments? Among other, modern developments we shall see how latest advances in laser interferometry can reveal not only how instruments behave, but how body of player is involved too. Timecodes: 00:00 - Stringed Instruments 01:12 - Wire Vibration 02:12 - Synthesizer Note Analysis 03:42 - Gladney Experiment 07:20 - Holography & Interference 10:01 - Musical Instruments of Plates 13:35 - Plate Vibration 15:23 - Tools of Southeast Asia 16:45 - Helmholtz Resonator 17:47 - Demonstration of Resonator 18:24 - Stringed Instruments 20:42 - Experimenting with Guitar 22:17 - Japanese Plucking Tool 25:28 - Role of Player's Body 26:27 - Medieval Tools 30:17 - Evolution of Violin 31:15 - Sound Quality 31:41 - Violin Experiments 32:55 - Effect on Sound 34:05 - Technical Aspects 35:00 - Experiments with Wood 35:45 - Properties of Wood & Plastic 37:37 - Speed of Sound in Wood 38:34 - Definition of Good Violin 40:29 - Philosophical Aspects of Music 41:28 - Technical Tests of Violin 44:18 - Transition to Cello 45:37 - Experiment with Violin 46:44 - Hologram of Guitar Plate 48:44 - Electric Guitar 50:27 - Clavichord 52:40 - Harpsichord & Spinet 54:00 - Synthesizer 55:30 - Conclusion Playlists: https://rutube.ru/plst/804000 https://vkvideo.ru/playlist/-235081080_114 #MusicHistory | #CharlesTaylor Original video: https://youtu.be/YlPTasQsPo8
In his 3rd lecture, Charles Taylor explores how flat plates and hollow bodies work in amplifying sounds. All stringed instruments start out with very quiet string vibrations that need amplifying and we shall start by looking at way in which flat plates and hollow bodies work in amplifying sounds. Our exploration of musical instruments will cover two different groups that both use strings as their primary source of sound. First group uses plucking as way of setting strings in vibration and includes all fascinating instruments like lyres and lutes that have eventually led up to modern harps and guitars. Science has begun to contribute to our knowledge of way in which guitars work and computer techniques are now being used to show how top plate of guitar vibrates when string is plucked. Second group is one of largest families of instruments, bowed strings, which derive from quiet viols. Then came baroque violins, cellos and other related instruments. But as orchestras became larger and composers of symphonies and concertos demanded more powerful sound, baroque instruments were rebuilt to give our present day violins and cellos. Even great instruments of Antonio Stradivari are no longer in their original form. And yet there is still magic about them. Can science help to reveal secret of 'Strad'? How far can scientific methods complement skill of craftsman in making instruments? Among other, modern developments we shall see how latest advances in laser interferometry can reveal not only how instruments behave, but how body of player is involved too. Timecodes: 00:00 - Stringed Instruments 01:12 - Wire Vibration 02:12 - Synthesizer Note Analysis 03:42 - Gladney Experiment 07:20 - Holography & Interference 10:01 - Musical Instruments of Plates 13:35 - Plate Vibration 15:23 - Tools of Southeast Asia 16:45 - Helmholtz Resonator 17:47 - Demonstration of Resonator 18:24 - Stringed Instruments 20:42 - Experimenting with Guitar 22:17 - Japanese Plucking Tool 25:28 - Role of Player's Body 26:27 - Medieval Tools 30:17 - Evolution of Violin 31:15 - Sound Quality 31:41 - Violin Experiments 32:55 - Effect on Sound 34:05 - Technical Aspects 35:00 - Experiments with Wood 35:45 - Properties of Wood & Plastic 37:37 - Speed of Sound in Wood 38:34 - Definition of Good Violin 40:29 - Philosophical Aspects of Music 41:28 - Technical Tests of Violin 44:18 - Transition to Cello 45:37 - Experiment with Violin 46:44 - Hologram of Guitar Plate 48:44 - Electric Guitar 50:27 - Clavichord 52:40 - Harpsichord & Spinet 54:00 - Synthesizer 55:30 - Conclusion Playlists: https://rutube.ru/plst/804000 https://vkvideo.ru/playlist/-235081080_114 #MusicHistory | #CharlesTaylor Original video: https://youtu.be/YlPTasQsPo8