Acoustics

I've just delved into the history of acoustic science and technology. Main findings until now:

The first one to systematically and quantitatively investigate acoustics was Wallace Sabine, a late nineteenth century assistant professor of physics at Harvard. He was commissioned to improve the sound of the Sanders lecture theatre, and after three years of fruitless measurements with a 512 Hz organ pipe and of moving cushions around over campus, he finally found the following relation between sound reverberation time t ("echo"), volume of the room or concert hall V, absorption coefficient of the different materials present (including audience and musicians) a(n), and of course their surface s(n):

t=o.164V/Sum(a(n)*s(n))

Sabine first measured the total absorbing power of a room Sum(a(n)*s(n)) in "Sanders Theatre seat cushions". However, later on he decided to change this into the rather more universal unit of "open windows":-)

Hoe het ook zij, it's great that in this essay I can combine physics, history, anthropology, sociology and music.

Chapter VIII

"'You are sad,' the Knight said in an anxious tone: 'let me sing you a song to comfort you.'
'Is it very long?' Alice asked, for she had heard a good deal of poetry that day.
'It's long,' said the Knight, 'but it's very, very beautiful. Everybody that hears me sing it - either it brings the tears into their eyes, or else -'"

But there is no else this time.

Tonight, at 21:04 General Tea Time, the White Knight came and brought me a serenade.

I am afraid I have lost the ability to distinguish tears of sorrow from tears of joy.

But this is my answer:

Wherever you go my love follows you
Wherever I remain my desire embraces you

~

Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Only four chapters to go...