[MR] BBC: Notre Dame Accoustics Restored

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the BBC is offering a story about the acoustic qualities of Notre
Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Before the disastrous 2019 fire, studies of the
Cathedral's acoustical qualities had been made by researchers and the sound
files were archived. During and after the restoration new recordings were
made and major differences were discovered in the way sound resonated and
echoed. The researchers realized that even before the fire years of grime
on the stone interior had been muffling the sounds. The famous organ, which
escaped the fire relatively unscathed, also sounded differently after a
major pipe cleaning. Even the change from sound-absorbing cane chairs for
the congregation to all-wood had a measurable effect on the over-all sound.
The researchers have somewhat poetically concluded that the Notre Dame
itself is a giant musical instrument, and it is now back in tune.

One additional benefit was noted. After 800 years of grime was removed from
the windows, the church interior is much brighter. The researchers
postulate that the increased lighting uplifts the mood of worshipers
themselves, making them better able to appreciate the Cathedral's music.

Today Notre Dame is thought to better reflect the way music would have
sounded in the middle ages.

The story is found at
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250306-notre-dame-does-the-cathedral-sound-the-same-now-it-has-reopened-following-the-destructive-fire
.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.