{"product_id":"pistols-in-st-pauls-science-music-and-architecture-in-the-twentieth-century-hardcover","title":"Pistols in St Paul's: Science, Music, and Architecture in the Twentieth Century - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eFiona Smyth\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA ground-breaking account of the scientists and architects who pioneered acoustics in twentieth-century Britain. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOn a winter's night in 1951, shortly after Evensong, the interior of St Paul's Cathedral echoed with gunfire. This was no act of violence but a scientific demonstration of new techniques in acoustic measurement. It aimed to address a surprising question: could a building be a musical instrument? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePistols in St Paul's tells the fascinating story of the scientists, architects and musicians who set out to answer this question. Beginning at the turn of the century, their innovative experiments, which took place at sites ranging from Herbert Baker's Assembly Chamber in Delhi to Abbey Road Studios and a disused munitions factory near Perivale, would come to define the field of 'architectural acoustics'. They culminated in 1951 with the opening of the Royal Festival Hall - the first building to be designed for musical tone. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDeeply researched and richly illustrated, Pistols in St Paul's brings to light a scientific quest spanning half a century, one that demonstrates the power of international cooperation in the darkest of times.\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn a winter's night in 1951, shortly after Evensong, the interior of St Paul's Cathedral echoed with gunfire. This was no act of violence but a scientific demonstration of new techniques in acoustic measurement. It aimed to address a surprising question: could a building be a musical instrument? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePistols in St Paul's tells the fascinating story of the scientists, architects and musicians who set out to answer this question. Beginning at the turn of the century, their innovative experiments, which took place at sites ranging from Herbert Baker's Assembly Chamber in Delhi to Abbey Road Studios and a disused munitions factory near Perivale, would come to define the field of 'architectural acoustics'. They culminated in 1951 with the opening of the Royal Festival Hall - the first building to be designed for musical tone. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDeeply researched and richly illustrated, Pistols in St Paul's brings to light a scientific quest spanning half a century, one that demonstrates the power of international cooperation in the darkest of times.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFiona Smyth is an Associate Professor in the School of Art History and Cultural Policy at University College Dublin. Her research has been awarded the Newman Medal for Architectural Acoustics by the Acoustical Society of America, the Stanley Smith Prize for Construction History by the Construction History Society and the Hawksmoor Medal for Architectural History by the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 9.21 x 6.14 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 24, 2024\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42702530314303,"sku":"9781526180209","price":39.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/281b553b9fcc96449ee5e7c35b99ccc4_680ec3e0-95cb-473f-bcd7-46f8251bc31e.webp?v=1765025056","url":"https:\/\/dhl-adrianne.myshopify.com\/products\/pistols-in-st-pauls-science-music-and-architecture-in-the-twentieth-century-hardcover","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}