Unleashing the Sounds of Prehistoric Dinosaurs with Dinosaur Choir
Have you ever imagined attending a concert where the orchestra recreates the soundscape of a prehistoric swamp, with each instrument modeled after a different dinosaur? The innovative art project known as Dinosaur Choir aims to make this imaginative concept a reality.
While we can easily visualize the appearance of dinosaurs through reconstructions, determining the sounds they made is a more challenging task. Instead of the typical cinematic roars we often hear, the sounds likely included bellows, booms, coos, chirps, and cries similar to those produced by modern-day birds.
Related: Ancient Voice Box Finally Reveals How Dinosaurs May Have Sounded
Dinosaur Choir, developed by artist and musician Courtney Brown at Southern Methodist University and industrial designer Cezary Gajewski at the University of Alberta, aims to recreate these ancient animals as musical instruments.
The first performer in this unique ensemble is Corythosaurus, a late-Cretaceous herbivore known for its distinctive crest. This dinosaur likely used the crest to produce loud, deep sounds for communication purposes.
The Dinosaur Choir instrument designed for Corythosaurus replicates the complex tubes and chambers in its crest, based on CT scans of fossilized skulls. The current version features a 3D-printed replica of the crest with a digital voice box and speaker, allowing users to produce sounds by interacting with a connected camera and microphone.
While Corythosaurus is the first member of the choir, Brown aims to introduce an ankylosaur next. This armored dinosaur, known for its bird-like voice box, offers an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse vocalizations of prehistoric creatures.
Brown envisions a complete Dinosaur Choir that will provide social participatory musical experiences, ensemble musical works, and a unique blend of music, dinosaurs, technology, and science. The project’s webpage elaborates on this vision and invites enthusiasts to join in the musical journey.
