Part 1: Thu, Dec 19, 2024. 4:00 PM

Part 2: Fri, Dec 20, 2024. 4:00 PM

 

Lecture Hall – 1 (Haapus), ELC, NCBS

 

Abstract: 

We will discuss certain unique structural design features in some of our musical instruments, with an emphasis on their acoustical significance, historical development, and mathematical modelling. On one hand, we view these instruments as objects of scientific ingenuity designed to produce musical sound. The distinctive design elements therefore become crucial in our understanding of the cultural identity of the musical sound. On the other hand, we trace the origin of the design features to early musicological texts and fine art thereby arguing for a certain continuity of the essential ideas while newer instruments continue to be developed and older ones keep vanishing before us. We will pursue these aspirations over two lectures. In the first, we will consider plucked stringed instruments with Tānpurā at the centre of our discussion whereas, in the second, we will focus our attention to membrophonic percussion instruments. During both the lectures we will pose several problems for a multi-disciplinary collaboration.

 

Bio: 

Anurag was born and raised in Lucknow before graduating from IIT Roorkee in 2002. This was followed by a Masters and a Doctoral degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Since 2008, he has been a faculty member in the department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kanpur. Anurag’s academic interests are in the broad areas of theoretical solid mechanics where he is primarily interested in modelling complex mechanical behaviour of solids using advanced mathematical methods. More recently, he has developed a serious interest in learning about Indian musical instruments, both from scientific and historical viewpoints.