In his fourth lecture, Charles Taylor takes a look at the development and science behind wind instruments.
Watch all the lectures in this series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZywm9-OxvqPpP8RnE4dQnXY
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This was recorded on 4 Dec 1989.
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From the 1989 programme notes:
There has been a remarkable interaction between the way that instrument makers have developed instruments, the way players have developed their skills for performance, and the way composers have used these developments in their music. This fascinating intersection of physics, craftmanship and human auditory psychology will be discussed in this lecture.
Technological innovations from valves to key systems have profoundly shaped wind instrument capabilities, sound characteristics, and our perception of music. This lecture will explore the science behind wind instruments, looking at how these technological innovations, coupled with the vibrations caused by air moving down pipes, creates sounds that we interpret as music.
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About the 1989 CHRISTMAS LECTURES
Science and music are often treated as separate subjects yet large numbers of scientists are passionate about music. Science is sometimes described as the process of asking questions about the world around us and in this series of lectures, we shall be asking scientific questions about many different aspects of music, starting with the most difficult of all… ‘What is Music?’
It is a fact that every sound is produced by changing the pressure of the air by a small amount. These pressure changes travel as waves to our ears and when they are perceived by the ear-brain system, they become what we call sound and music. We shall explore the basic science involved in this journey including how musical instruments make pressure changes and the factors that affect sound quality, both from the craftsmanship of the instrument to the skill of the performer.
The ear-brain system has a profound effect on our perception of music and these lectures will consider this alongside how the technology of instruments in different cultures have influenced the development of music.
These lectures will include demonstrations from over 100 years ago, using much of the original apparatus which has survived at the Royal Institution. While many of the demonstrations in this lecture series may appear to be quite objective, it is necessary to remind ourselves that we are dealing with very subjective phenomena. The experience we call music can on be understood properly if we bring the measurements and observations out of the lab and apply them in the real world of performance and listening.
Find out more about the CHRISTMAS LECTURES here: https://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures
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