"Britten's Boys" article in The Guardian

[MrGongGong]

Here's an academic paper that might help (Yes a REAL ONE )

https://physics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pst/article/viewFile/363/204

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm beginning to think seriously about leaving these threads. It seems to me that at least half the offerings seem to be studied insults or point scoring. A thread begins, and after half a dozen comments on the subject it quickly degenerates into invective. Do I like you all? I'm not sure any more.

You don't have to like us all, Ferret, and if you're not enjoying the Forum experience then there's not much point getting involved in it.

BUT

I like you , and enjoy reading your posts. I would be very sad if you gave up on us just because of the vitriolic exchanges that are really only a small part of these boards - not really "at least half": I think the spite and venom in them gives them a disproportionate "weight". Look at all the joy and delight on the Bargains, What Are You Listening to Now? and Brit Composers threads, let alone the balmy (and barmey) waters of Alphabet Associations and Stormy Weather. This isn't even mentioning the parallel universe that is Cheers: surely a model of how a civilized society should be! The Jazz and World Musics boards have introduced me to whole repertoires of glorious Music of which I was previously only dimly aware - and the thought of Alpie sitting up into the early hours tracking down every obscure recording that might feature on the next BaL is one that restores my faith in the human spirit.

Please stick with us: we need the Ferrets of this world!

[amateur51]

You don't have to like us all, Ferret, and if you're not enjoying the Forum experience then there's not much point getting involved in it.

BUT

I like you , and enjoy reading your posts. I would be very sad if you gave up on us just because of the vitriolic exchanges that are really only a small part of these boards - not really "at least half": I think the spite and venom in them gives them a disproportionate "weight". Look at all the joy and delight on the Bargains, What Are You Listening to Now? and Brit Composers threads, let alone the balmy (and barmey) waters of Alphabet Associations and Stormy Weather. This isn't even mentioning the parallel universe that is Cheers: surely a model of how a civilized society should be! The Jazz and World Musics boards have introduced me to whole repertoires of glorious Music of which I was previously only dimly aware - and the thought of Alpie sitting up into the early hours tracking down every obscure recording that might feature on the next BaL is one that restores my faith in the human spirit.

Please stick with us: we need the Ferrets of this world!

Seconded absolutely

[Tony Halstead]

'Thirded'!

[Serial_Apologist]

Here's an academic paper that might help (Yes a REAL ONE )

https://physics.le.ac.uk/journals/in...ewFile/363/204

Re the link, my computer tells me in big Microsoft letters: THIS SITE IS NOT TRUSTED.

[MrGongGong]

Re the link, my computer tells me in big Microsoft letters: THIS SITE IS NOT TRUSTED.

It's Leicester University department of Physics

you TRUST Microsoft ???

[Simon]

It's Leicester University department of Physics

you TRUST Microsoft ???

Just because the site is from a University doesn't mean that it has not been, or cannot be, compromised. Many academic instituitions have laughably weak security on their systems.

It's unsurprising that you would want to have an automatic dig at Microsoft (it's American, it's a big company, therefore it's evil... yawn, yawn) but they have saved some major problems over the years by their security assessments.

Perhaps it would be more useful if, in future, you posted from knowledge, rather than prejudice.

[Ferretfancy]

Perhaps it was a fit of the grouches ! I was probably reading too much of the argumentative stuff. Thanks for the kind words, I wouldn't really wish to depart.

Bws.
Ferret ( Still liking most of you! )

[MrGongGong]

Perhaps it would be more useful if, in future, you posted from knowledge, rather than prejudice.

Just like you then ?
Why do you HAVE to take yourself SO seriously ALL the time ?

So for those too scared to read it online here's the text complete with strange characters that can't be pasted into this font ..........

Journal of Special Topics
1
P3_11 Smallest Violin
A. Phong , M. McNally, R. Pierce, T. Searle
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH.
March 10, 2011
Abstract
This paper investigates the length of violin string needed for "the world's smallest violin playing the world’s saddest song.” It is found that the length required for an E string is 0.0108m and a violin of this size capable of producing the required frequency is unlikely to be possible.
The world’s saddest song
There exists a phrase, "the world's smallest violin playing the world’s saddest song” or other similar variations. A smaller instrument will produce a higher frequency, therefore, it will be assumed that the parameter for “the world’s saddest song” is the highest frequency audible by the human ear and this has a value of around 20kHz [1].
The world’s smallest violin
The violin string that has the highest frequency is the E string, so this string is taken as the sample and its properties are used to determine the length string that is required to play the target frequency.
It is assumed that the violin will play an “open” note, which means that no finger will be pressed on the string. When a string is played on a violin, it vibrates at its fundamental frequency and at the harmonics of that frequency. The pitch that is heard is made up of the many harmonics of the fundamental and consists of a range of frequencies, with the fundamental frequency being the loudest. To simplify the calculation, it will be assumed that the pitch that will be heard is 20kHz and that this will be produced purely by the fundamental mode of the string vibrating at a frequency of 20kHz. The fundamental mode of the string will have a length (L) equal to half the wavelength (��) as shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 1. Illustration of the fundamental (top) and the next three harmonic standing waves on a vibrating string.
Smallest Violin, March 10, 2011.
2
The speed of a wave (v) is given by its wavelength multiplied by its frequency f,
��= ����. (1)
Therefore,
��= 2����. (2)
The wave speed for a uniform string can be determined from the physical properties of the string and is given by [2],
��= ����, (3)
where �� is the tension of the string and �� is the mass per unit length. Combining equations (2) and (3) and rearranging for length gives,
��=12�� ����. (4)
A typical E string has values of ��=78N [3] and ��=0.000417kg m−1 [3], this gives a string length equal to 0.0108m.
Discussion
It would be extremely difficult to make a traditional violin this small and that can play 20kHz on an E string, as the material may not support the tension required. Even if such a violin could be made, the vibrations produced may be too quiet to be audible. In this case, the other harmonics are neglected, but they may be capable of producing an audible frequency of 20kHz with a longer string that would allow the violin to be larger and stronger. Another possible method would be to make a custom designed string that can play at 20kHz with a lower tension.
Conclusion
The length of violin string required to produce the highest frequency that the human ear can hear is found to be 1.08cm. However, this result only considers the fundamental mode of a particular string. The world’s smallest functional violin is about 4.1cm long [4]. If the previous values and assumptions are used, and it is approximated that the length of string equals the length of the violin, then the frequency played by this violin is 5.27 kHz. Perhaps this value should be considered as “the world’s saddest song.”
References
[1] Sensitivity of the human ear, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...d/earsens.html (08/03/11)
[2] Resonance in strings,
http://faculty.kfupm.edu.sa/phys/moh...CE_STRINGS.pdf (08/03/11)
[3] E. Jansson, Acoustics for violin and guitar makers (Royal Institute of Technology, 2002), chapter 4, page 4.13. http://www.speech.kth.se/music/acviguit4/part4.pdf (08/03/11)
[4] World's Smallest Violin, http://www.therainiervalley.com/violin.html (08/03/11)


A quick question Simon
As you seem to be an expert at the IT protocols of Universities which system does your institution use ?

[Simon]

A quick question Simon
As you seem to be an expert at the IT protocols of Universities which system does your institution use ?

I'm at a loss, GongGong. I mention the fact that some academic institutions have security problems - the reason I know that is because Rachael was at the sticky end of two such problems a few years ago - and you immediately assume that I'm an expert all of a sudden. It is possible to know a fact without being an expert on the whole subject area, you know.

As to what systems our Head Office uses now, I don't know for sure. I hardly ever go there anyway. And even if I did I don't expect I'd be thanked by our IT people for letting the world (or that part of it which reads these messages) know about it, anyway!

[amateur51]

Perhaps it was a fit of the grouches ! I was probably reading too much of the argumentative stuff. Thanks for the kind words, I wouldn't really wish to depart.

Bws.
Ferret ( Still liking most of you! )

Hooray!!

[amateur51]

Just because the site is from a University doesn't mean that it has not been, or cannot be, compromised. Many academic instituitions have laughably weak security on their systems.

It's unsurprising that you would want to have an automatic dig at Microsoft (it's American, it's a big company, therefore it's evil... yawn, yawn) but they have saved some major problems over the years by their security assessments.

Perhaps it would be more useful if, in future, you posted from knowledge, rather than prejudice.

Be fair, Gary McKinnon hacked into 97 United States military and NASA computers (according to wiki)

[MrGongGong]

As to what systems our Head Office uses now, I don't know for sure. I hardly ever go there anyway. And even if I did I don't expect I'd be thanked by our IT people for letting the world (or that part of it which reads these messages) know about it, anyway!

Come on Simon we all know what IT your "Head Office" is using
its been all over the media

[Simon]

[amo]

Thank you for taking the words out of my mouth.
Only a British newspaper would print such an empty article, lacking any proof of accusation or any substantial material, at a time when we should be celebrating a great British composer.
I hope his wonderful music drowns out this nonsense in 2013 and in centuries ahead...

An excellent post - thank you!