The science behind one of UK’s most iconic sounds A signature sound for Great Britain is the bongs of Big Ben, the giant bell housed within the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. And tonight it will welcome in the New Year. There is something special about the sound. Listen to a bell chime… Continue reading Big Ben's Bongs
Category: music
How I added a Halloween feel to Merry Christmas Everyone
A few year’s ago I presented a programme for BBC Radio 4 where I learnt how to make music that has unresolved dissonance. For #AcousticsAdvent I decided to do a new version of a Christmas classic – see SoundCloud below. The effect kicks in half way through. Below I describe why researchers were doing this, and… Continue reading How I added a Halloween feel to Merry Christmas Everyone
Beat box of tricks
How beatboxers create a snare drum
Scientists are trying to uncover what makes Stradivarius violins special – but are they wasting their time?
Hunting for the Holy Grail of violin making – is there really a Strad secret to be found?
Playing the Echo
A recording of a remarkable percussion piece that plays with the echo in the reading room of Manchester Central Library.
Inner Jukebox
How an abstinence from music affected the tunes in my head
Musical Fast
I’m giving up music for lent, but what is music?
All about what bass?
How bass is increasing in pop music, with All About That Bass following the trend
Acoustic analysis of playing the World's 'longest echo'
Taking apart the sound of the saxophone in the Inchindown Oil Tanks
Playing the World's 'longest echo'
My experience of playing the saxophone in the world record oil tank