MusicSphere
A Multimodal Approach for Digitizing, Analysing, and Simulating Traditional Musical Organs Through 3D Technologies, Acoustic Analysis and Interactive Experiences
MusicSphere aims to develop tools that combine advanced technologies for preserving, studying, and providing access to the cultural heritage aspects of traditional musical organs. The project will focus on traditional wind instruments such as Pipe Organs and their ancient Greek counterpart such as ‘Hydraulis’. By employing digital technologies precise digital replicas of these instruments will be created, capturing intricate physical and mechanical details and aiding in the preservation and restoration efforts. The study will involve analysing the unique sound characteristics of the organs and utilizing acoustic simulations in order to accurately recreate their tonal qualities and the interaction of sound with surrounding architecture and environmental conditions. Virtual and interactive tools will be developed to simulate the handling of these instruments, providing platforms where users can experience them in digital or augmented reality environments. By integrating 3D visual data, acoustic properties, and interactive models into a cohesive system, the research will try to offer a holistic understanding of the instruments’ artistic and functional significance. The results will contribute to the long-term preservation of these cultural artifacts by creating digital archives and enhancing public and scholarly access through interactive technologies and educational applications. Another key objective is the projection of the results to the past in an effort to approximate the acoustic characteristics of non-functional musical instruments. Surviving fragments or detailed historical records will be used to create accurate digital 3D models of the partly preserved artifacts and the missing segments will be recreated through advanced computational techniques based on similar instruments from the same period or region. Non-invasive techniques will identify the properties of the original materials, which can then be digitally and/or physically replicated. Acoustic modelling tools will simulate how sound would have interacted with the structure of the reconstructed instrument. Historical context through texts, iconography, and ethnomusicology will aid towards a more accurate approximation of the sound recreation through information on playing techniques and environmental conditions, such as the acoustics of the spaces where the instruments were traditionally used. Hypotheses about sound and functionality will be tested through virtual simulation platforms or by physical replicas.
