Lecture: 'Musical Chemistry: The Sound of Molecules and Orchestra of the Elements'

What does hydrogen sound like? Can the periodic table be a musical instrument? Composer and chemist Walker Smith has spent the past few years exploring these and other questions. In this lecture he will showcase the sounds of the molecular world, discuss what we can learn from listening to atoms and molecules, and present his compositional process for making music from the periodic table. Appearing as the rainbow-clad character “Roy G. Biv”, Walker will present his “musical periodic table”, an instrument he developed to compose music from the visible spectra of the elements. He will also share excerpts from his shows “The Sound of Molecules” and “Orchestra of the Elements” and discuss his unique performance practice bridging musical and scientific communication.

Biography

Walker Smith (1999) is a “Musical Chemist” holding dual bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and music composition from Indiana University. He is a current US-Netherlands Fulbright Scholar and will begin a Ph.D. in Computer Music at Stanford University in September 2024. His research focuses on the intersection of music and chemistry, particularly on how sonifications of chemical phenomena can be used for engaging science education. His music/science shows “The Sound of Molecules” and “Orchestra of the Elements” have been experienced by thousands of people in the US and Europe.