Scales, synthesizers, and samplers
By: InCA ; BBC ; presented by Films for the Humanities and Sciences ; producer/director, Brian Johnson
Contributors: Independent Communications Associates; British Broadcasting Corporation; Royal Institution of Great Britain; Films for the Humanities (Firm)
Series: Science and music; Exploring music -- [v.] 5; Royal Institution Christmas lectures
Publisher: Films for the Humanities & Sciences
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Princeton, N.J
Language: eng
Format: [videorecording] /
Number of pages: 60
Subjects: Music; Acoustics and physics; Musical instruments; Musical pitch; Musical intervals and scales; Musical temperament; Synthesizer (Musical instrument); Sound-waves; Musical perception
Description: "This program covers such problems as the production of varying degrees of loudness on harpsichords and spinets, the mechanical engineering of the modern piano, the origin of scales, and the inability of keyboard instruments to produce scales in all keys exactly in tune. Synthesizers demonstrate both the problem and its solution. The progression is from electronic organs to analogue synthesizers, from purely electronic oscillations to the addition, subtraction, multiplication, mixing, and performance of additional functions that comprise the complex sounds of music. The program also looks at digital sound and musique concrete, using the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to answer some of the questions about the partnership between science and music."--Container.
Notes: Videodisc release of the Royal Institution 1989 Christmas Lectures.

Executive producer, William Wollard ; associate producer, Richard Thomson ; camera supervisor, Barry Chaston ; production manager, Gabi Kabza.

Charles Taylor.

DVD.