Luxagraf

A father-and-son team, Thomas and Stuart Mitchell, have unlocked a coded music system present in decorations of the Rosslyn Chapel. The chapel contains 213 carved blocks showing thirteen geometric patterns. In addition to these blocks, there are carved angels playing musical instruments, including one who is pointing to certain notes on a musical staff. So here’s the crazy math part — Thomas Mitchell discovered that the thirteen geometric patterns carved on the blocks were cymatics (also known as Chladni patterns). Cymatics are generated by amplifying a musical tone onto a resonant surface (similar to a drum head) which is covered by grains of sand, or a similar medium. At certain frequencies, the sand forms intricate geometric patterns. The Mitchells’ call their composition, based on the carvings, The Rosslyn Motet. It will debut on May 18, 2007 in a performance at the chapel.

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