Multidimensionality of Music and Sound - Research Paper Example

Module Social Networks INTRODUCTION Sound waves are basically vibrations that are transmitted through materials that could be liquid, solid, or gas. It is the molecules in such materials, which are fitted tightly, that transmit the sound waves by vibrating. Sound waves will move through these materials at different speeds because of the ranging levels at which molecules are packed. Solids have the most tightly packed molecules, while gases have the molecules that are not tightly packed. This means that the difference in the spacing of molecules affects how fast sound travels through materials made of liquid or solid. According to Parker, sound waves travel further and faster through water than air. This is the reason why mammals such as whales in oceans communicate with each other over long distances (Parker 39). The speed with which sound waves travel through different media is also determined by the existing temperature. In warm temperature, the molecules in a given medium will bump into each other on a faster basis than would be the case in colder temperatures. Musicians are among the individuals that often seek to create audio experiences through interactive sound. Moreover, sound waves can also be used to create art, or artistic paintings. This can be done by observing the impact that sound vibrations may have on paints on different surfaces. Cymatics Cymatics is descriptive of the study of detectable vibrations or sounds. Artists can use different media for the purpose of transmitting sound waves in order to bring out different patterns. Sound is essentially a form of energy that needs a medium through which to travel. There are different musical instruments that can be used to produce sound waves, which are basically volumes of compressed air that are broadcasted outward. All musical instruments can produce sound waves. Some accomplish this through mechanical vibrations, which are then transformed into acoustic energy (Fukushima, Suzuki, and Omoto 188). Different musical instruments have different properties that allow them to produce different kinds of sound waves. For instance, stringed musical instruments tend to produce compression waves which are generated when strings are plucked, because they cause the air to vibrate. In stringed instruments such as violins which have violin boxes, sound vibrations, when the string is plucked use compression to move through the air. In the case of electronic instruments, the instrument’s membrane actually vibrates through electromagnetic fields. Brass musical instruments will experience compression waves inside the instruments before these waves are directed externally into the air (Plack, Oxenham, and Fay 27). Instruments such as recorders and flutes, which have no real resonators, are different because they generate sound waves by means of fluid dynamic principles. In regards to flutes, air currents are made to exit or enter the openings on the instrument. The term ‘cymatic’ is used to refer to the evaluation of vibrations, as well as visible sounds. In order to create art with the vibrations that are created by musical instruments, it is necessary for Cymatic amplifiers to be used. This medium is important because it enables sound waves to be seen in visual forms, thus linking the auditory as well as optical experiences simultaneously. Cymatic amplifiers can be used for artistic purposes because they have the capacity to hold water. The water that is held by the cymatic amplifiers is then used to reveal different patterns that are based on the pressure being exerted by the shape of the musical sound that is being amplified. Such patterns can then be said to be accurate representations of the musical sounds in question in regards to the physical characteristics of the sound (Pendley 16). While music can be said to be a medium that has the ability to transform human experience, the cymatic amplifier can be said to be the implement that makes it possible for people to be able to visualize music. Different types of Waves From the study of cymatics, it is evident that each sound wave generates a corresponding shape or pattern. This is something that supplies real evidence that vibration is one of the fundamentals of all existence. There are different types of sound waves generated by musical instruments that can be used, through the cymatic amplifier, to generate artistic images. These include: Traveling Waves Sound waves are generated when instruments vibrate. When musical instruments vibrate, they affect their surroundings because their vibrations trigger similar reactions in different surrounding media. When they affect the air, vibrations are referred to as travelling longitudinal waves. These sound waves may have different regions of low or high pressure which are known as compressions. In regards to longitudinal waves, the particles in question do not move according to the wave, but just vacillate back and forth upon their own equilibrium positions. Standing waves are formed by vibrations that occur within a given tube. Standing waves will result from waves reflecting from the end of an open or closed tube. If an artist blows into an instrument like a flute, it is only the sound waves that fit within the tube that can resonate; any other frequencies will naturally be lost. Fundamental waves are able to fit within the tube, while others are merely considered as being overtones. Overtones are different from the frequencies that are considered as being fundamental, and which exist in all musical instruments. According to Omoto and Uchida, musical instruments of different kinds can be used to generate different overtones. Each instrument’s quality sound is essentially used to create the overtone (Omoto and Uchida 250). For instance, when different types of waves are below frequency, they generate the same note. Moreover, if they are on different frequencies, they sound different. Creating the Art with Sound waves Different artists use different methods of creating artistic images through sound waves. The best, or easiest method, is through the use of black backgrounds, which are easier to use than white ones. Bright lights can cause confusion in the perception of the true pictures. An artist can then apply paint on a balloon skin, which is then stretched over the amplifier. Once different sounds then start being played, the rubber will begin to vibrate as a result of the sonic waves. This will naturally trigger the paint which will appear to be ‘dancing’ on the balloons surface. So as to be able to freeze the camera shot at the exact moment when the artist wishes to capture an image, the artist can put the camera in bulb mode, and employ a cable to handle the shutter. There are different cameras that will be needed for the capturing of different perspectives of the vibrations of paint. In order to create flashes, the artist would have to employ high-speed cameras. Moreover, paint sculptures do not require this. The best type of paint to use is ‘gouache’, which is usually considered as being adequate for such activity because it is more viscous than other options such as water-based paint. The viscosity of the paint being used naturally, among other options, determines the quality of the work that will be produced. Another factor that will affect the quality of the end-picture is the vibration or sound wave that will be produced. If an extremely loud noise is triggered, it is likely that the paint on the balloon surface will virtually explode into the room that the artist is working on. However, extremely low volumes of sound will not trigger a big enough impact to create stunning scenes of drops of paint reacting to sound waves (Omoto and Uchida 251). The artist has to conduct a number of experiments in order to determine the right sound to trigger. The frequency of the sound does not just impact or determine the intensity of the vibration, but also determines the shape that will be taken by the entire picture. CONCLUSION Music cannot be merely perceived as a linear experience, because it is multi-dimensional. In the same way that it provides pleasure to the hearer, it can also provide visual satisfaction through the imaging of sound waves. When sound is generated through the vibration of a musical instrument’s strings, the resulting sound waves can be used to generate a unique form of art. Different musical instruments provide different kinds of vibrations; which in turn form different kinds of artistic representations. Musical instruments that have resonators tend to provide richer material for visual representations of sound waves. For instance, the violin, which has a resonator, may project sound waves in different dimensions through space. Cymatic visualization is the implement that is utilized in the creation of sound systems and high quality musical instruments. Cymatics sound painting activities can be made by employing resonating sound frequencies which are channeled through a speaker at varying wavelengths, while dripping onto a paper surface, watered down paint. When sound waves are used to vibrate different pigments and colors, there will be different kinds of organelle-like figures that are formed. Works Cited Fukushima, Yoshinari, Hisahari Suzuki, and Akira Omoto. “Visualization of reflected sound in enclosed space by sound intensity measurement.” Acoustical Science and Technology 27.3 (2006): 187–189. Omoto, Akira, and Harunori Uchida. “Evaluation method of artificial acoustical environment: Visualization of sound intensity.” Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science 23.6 (2004): 249–253. Parker, Barry. Good Vibrations: The Physics of Music. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009. Pendley, James. “Visualizing Sound: A musical composition of aural architecture.” University of South Florida (2009). Plack, Christopher, Andrew Oxenham, and Richard Fay. Pitch: Neural Coding and Perception. New York: Springer, 2005. Read More