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Anatomical Transfer Function
For as long as humans have populated Earth, we have been able to use our ears to localize the sources of sounds. The Anatomical Transfer Function is the model of how we hear the world. It is the doorway to many closely related studies about the perception of sound including Holographic Sound, Binaural sound, and 3D sound.

"Relying on a variety of cues, including intensity, timing, and spectrum, our brains recreate a three-dimensional image of the acoustic landscape from the sounds we hear." -- William M. Hartmann

  The curves show the spectrum of a small loudspeaker as heard in the left ear of a manikin when the speaker is in front (red), overhead (blue), and in back (green). A comparison of the curves reveals the relative gains of the anatomical transfer function.


Cymatics
In the mid 20th century the scientists H. Jenny and G. Manners studied the shapes and patterns created by sound vibrations as projected onto mediums of sand and iron filings, introducing a discipline which has been termed Cymatics.

"In the living as well as non-living parts of nature, the trained eye encounters wide-spread evidence of periodic systems. These systems points to a continuous transformation from the one set condition to the opposite set." - Jenny, Hans: The Structure and Dynamics of Waves and Vibrations, Basilius Press, 1967, p. 10

This work tends towards documenting the forms but doesn't seem to step into the science behind. For a more grounded look at Cymantics, the study of capillary waves and acoustic flow seem to nail down the details.

The patterns developed by particles of sand when distinct tones are played seem to share a universal similarity with other phenomenon in the natural world. Yet another glimpse at the macro/microcosms of waves and particles.
From wikipedia (June 2005):
A capillary wave is a wave travelling along a meniscus, whose dynamics are dominated by the effects of surface tension. Capillary waves are common in nature and the home and are often referred to as ripples. The wavelength of capillary waves is typically less than about a centimeter.

The dispersion relation for capillary waves is

ω2 = gk + (σ / ρ)k3

where ω is the frequency, g the acceleration due to gravity, σ the surface energy, ρ the density and k the wavelength.



The Mission of Art
I read a lot of books on art, music, and esoteric philosophy. These days I find it really hard to find 'page-turners' and I'm happy to say Alex Grey's book has inspired me to no end! He doesn't miss a beat as he explains his approach to art – his mission. As a musician/artist, I found myself feeling strong associations with his path, his encounters with energy/form and his passion to refine his skills. He considers his own life, those of other master artists and a wide gamut of other sources, putting together a map of artistic motivation and methodology. In this book he hits the core nerve of reasoning that resonates with sacred inner/outer truths and that's why I come away from the material feeling humbled by his dedication and invigorated to meet the challenge of continuing and empowering my own mission.