The Eidophone, by Megan Watts Hughes

Megan [Margaret] Watts Hughes (1842-1907) was an exceptional artist from Wales. Brilliant in several fields such as music, science and philanthropy, she leaves behind a rich and diverse legacy. Including an invention: the Eidophone.

Recognized by some sources as the first to experiment with sound visualization, she imagined the Eidophone: a revolutionary device that produces geometric patterns from the resonance of the voice.

Indeed, in 1885, during her vocal exercises, she fortuitously discovered what she called “vocal figures” or “vocal flowers” – patterns created by the resonance of standing waves.

Remarkably simple, the device consists of an elastic membrane, similar to a sheet of soft rubber, stretched tightly over the mouthpiece of a receiver. The voice was introduced through a conveniently shaped, wide-mouthed tube. In some cases the receptor could be removed, and the membrane stretched directly over the open end of the tube.

Its process, initially based on sand or lycopodium powder deposited on the membrane, evolved with the use of a fine liquid, such as water or milk, flooding the disk of the Eidophone. The vibrations were recorded as patterns on the record, described by Watts Hughes as "beautiful twitches", visible only if the pitches sung were not excessive. His experiments with colored glycerin revealed complex floral patterns in the liquid.

Watts Hughes' scientific observations were first published in an 1891 Century Magazine article under the name Margaret Watts Hughes. She presented her findings to the Musical Association, the Royal Institution and the Royal Society of London: an exceptional achievement for a woman at that time. Using photographs and diagrams, the article detailed his process and invention.

His work, later linked to the independent invention of Ernst Chladni's research, went beyond the boundaries of a simple demonstration at the Royal Society. His 1891 article led to the publication of an in-depth book in 1904, titled "The Eidophone; Voice Figures: Geometrical and Natural Forms Produced by Vibrations of the Human Voice." produced by the vibrations of the human voice"). This groundbreaking work with Ernst Chladni laid the foundations for the field of Cymatique, proposed by Swiss scientist Hans Jenny, explored more later by researchers at MIT. Thus, Megan Watts Hughes, through her ingenuity and multidisciplinary contributions, left a legacy that transcends the boundaries of art, science and research.

"Any news, information to share or writing talents? Contact me!"

11/03/2024