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Explore the fascinating science behind sound amplification in stringed instruments through this 58-minute Christmas Lecture from The Royal Institution, recorded in December 1989. Discover how flat plates and hollow bodies work to amplify the quiet vibrations produced by strings, examining two major families of stringed instruments: plucked instruments like lyres, lutes, harps, and guitars, and bowed string instruments including viols, baroque violins, and modern cellos. Learn how computer techniques reveal the vibration patterns of guitar top plates when strings are plucked, and understand the evolution of string instruments from quiet baroque versions to the more powerful modern orchestral instruments demanded by symphonic composers. Investigate the mysteries surrounding Antonio Stradivari's legendary violins and examine how scientific methods, including cutting-edge laser interferometry, can complement traditional craftsmanship in instrument making while revealing not only how instruments behave acoustically but also how the player's body contributes to the sound production process.
