Abstract:
This study sought to examine the nature of patterns produced in sand particles
stirred by fifteen (15) Ghanaian musical compositions selected under the three
broad musical genres: traditional, popular and Ghanaian art music. It explored
sonic-related factors that influence the generation of specific patterns in sand
particles and the extent to which musical super-impositions over sine waves at
specific frequencies influence the shapes produced in fine particles. Three
Ghanaian musical types as categorized by Agawu (1984) were selected.
Employing random sampling principles, five songs were selected from a
collection of twenty songs each based on the three musical types. The songs
were fed into a constructed and tested cymatic device in turns. From the
observation, and analysis that were done employing the VLC and the sonic
visualizer software, it was realised that the patterns generated fundamentally,
possessed qualities of Chladni figures, which was induced by a blend of
frequencies and amplitudes. Furthermore, the figures created were largely
related in features. The study revealed that apart from entertainment, sound
impacts positively on humans through other means like cymatics which
exposes its non-physical characteristics. In this way, the modern day music
teacher is able to add up to the delivery skills which influence teaching and
learning. The study captured series of frequencies and amplitudes, which
produced the cymatic figures. These frequencies and amplitudes could be used
to replicate the same cymatic figures by other persons. Thus, the provision of
the frequencies and amplitudes means an enhancement in the teaching and
learning of music in schools to expand the frontiers of music education.
