Scientists recreate Bach's forgotten horn

Cutting-edge computer modelling software has enabled a long-lost, trumpet-like instrument to be recreated allowing a work by Bach to be performed as the composer may have intended for the first time in nearly 300 years.

The software was originally developed by a University of Edinburgh PhD student, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with the aim of optimising the design of modern brass instruments.

Computer modelling is an emerging technology in instrument manufacture, but the new software offers unprecedented accuracy in terms of ensuring a brass instruments design delivers the required shape, pitch and tone

More information: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PressReleases/BachsHorn.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8075223.stm

EPSRC Press Release - 1 June 2009

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• EPSRC
• Edinburgh
• research
• Alistair
• Braden
• Murray
• Campbell
• computer
• modelling
• software
• Bach
• Lituus
• trombone
• Schola
• Cantorum
• Basiliensis
• SCB
• music
• classical
• history
• Scotland
• Impact

[saladshootavvv]

also by your logic and your obvious disdain towards cultural history, do you find any benefits or advantages in art at all or are you one of the new "art is a luxury" drones that seem to make up most of the youth today? I really am curious and not just being a jerk...well, maybe a little

[perigee]

Did you even listen to the entire program? Around 5:40 or so, one of the interviewees talks about industrial applications. Essentially non-invasive acoustical measurements could help us figure out other related tubes, ducts, valves and flanges by listening to sounds and echoes.

I don't know about you, but this sounds to me like a "science dividend" that is actually useful to non-artists, even if you do have this weird bias away from the usefulness of pure cultural research and development.

[norufuss]

The instrument they have constructed is just the same as a Norwegian "neverlur" (birch bark lur), a wooden instrument (and a relative to the alp horn) that has been used for centuries in Norwegian traditional folk music, and long time before Bach's time!

You can buy the instrument here ;) naturinstrumenter.no/

[redbrian3655]

"cumbersome!!".. that is one good explanation as to why the lituus. This was very interesting. I knew nothing of this instrument, though I knew Motet 118 well. I am glad that time and money is spent on valuable historical research. Has the final recording been made of #118 with this lituus yet? Thank you. BRIAN

[AndyHirt]

This is an ALPHORN!! An alphorn looks like a lituus, but is about twice as long. Basically, a lituus is very similar to a hornpipe (a pipe with a sheep's/cow's horn shoved on the end). With A=415, Bach's instrument would be even longer. What they made is a long lur. I appreciate the technology. However, if you wanted to make the instrument cheaply, buy an alphorn (not cheap) or have a Norwegian make a long lur. Bach probably just gave a folk instrument a fancy "classical" name.

[BethDiane]

Why not just use an alpenhorn? these don't look that different!

[reaperofgenocide]

Yet wasted tax dollars, pop culture that promotes violence, sex, and drugs, fast food, and gambling is not?? Depending on how much money is truly spend in rediscovering lost art and music it might seem as a waste of money. It certainly wont top wasted govt spending such as a u.s. bail out of 700 bill which they chosen because they wanted a really high number. But lost culture IS important because of info. Such as missing history or like in ancient egypt how they had the bagdag lightbulb.

[dubhslaine2]

...Ricola!

[5botball]

Learn an instrument why are you talking then?????