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Music and physics: a cultural, interdisciplinary history
1Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Polytechnic University, Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. mjackson@poly.edu
This study explores the 19th-century German exchange between physicists, musicians, and instrument makers. It highlights how interdisciplinary history, incorporating scientific details, offers a richer understanding than traditional disciplinary approaches.
Area of Science:
- History of Science
- Musicology
- Material Culture Studies
Background:
- Investigates the 19th-century German triangular exchange among physicists, musicians, and instrument makers.
- Proffers a material, cultural, and interdisciplinary history of this scientific and artistic milieu.
Observation:
- Analyzes four key examples: musical automata and virtuosi, the reed pipe in music and scientific measurement, the standardization of performance pitch, and the measurement of musical virtuosity.
Findings:
- Demonstrates the intricate connections between scientific inquiry and musical practice.
- Reveals how scientific concepts and instruments influenced musical instrument making and performance standards.
Implications:
- Suggests that interdisciplinary cultural histories, by seriously engaging with scientific content, offer a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding compared to purely disciplinary histories.
- Highlights the value of integrating scientific and artistic perspectives for a holistic view of historical developments.
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