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John Q. Walker's TED Talk: Gould's Goldberg Variations Go LIVE With Computerized Grand Pianos

Canadian pianist Glenn Gould would have loved the notion of computerized grand pianos. Notorious for rejecting live performance in pursuit of studio perfection, Gould's Goldberg Variations are a testament to his recording prowess. Yet, according to software entrepreneur John Q. Walker's TED Talk, not all audiophiles accept that studio production has secured complete and total optimization over musical output. Especially with respect to older, scratchier, and poorly mixed recordings, some still regard studio work as a stop-gap measure for the kind of experience only a live performance can give. Still, despite this seemingly anti-tech attitude, it may in fact be technology that restores live performing capabilities to long-departed performers.
By Steve Nagel

  • Sounds of Space: Chandra X-Ray Discovers Black Hole Singing in the Key of B-Flat

    Could the universe be in the key of B flat? Recounting a decade-old discovery, the NY Times reported on the Chandra X-ray discovery of a black hole that's been singing in the key of B-flat for more than two billion years. The exact register of the B-flat was found to be some 57 octaves below middle C.
    By Steve Nagel

  • Repetition in Music: 'Mere Exposure Effect' and 'Semantic Satiation'

    The use of repetition in music raises a controversial debate for many listeners. In many cases, it is the sole delineator between the addicting songs and the irritating ones. Now, the folks over at IFL Science have put together a video arguing how incredibly fundamental repetition in music is to impressing itself on the listener, using the "mere exposure effect" and "semantic satiation" as its foremost defense.
    By Steve Nagel