Architectural acoustical oddities

Abstract

The quad at James Madison University (Virginia, USA) exhibits an uncommon, but not unique, acoustical oddity called Repetition Pitch. When someone stands at certain places on the quad and makes a punctuated white noise (claps, for example) a most unusual squeak is returned. This phenomenon only occurs at these specific places. A similar effect has been observed in other locations, mostly notably Ursinus College (Pennsylvania, USA) and the pyramid at Chichen Itza (Mexico). This talk will discuss Repetition Pitch, as well as other interesting architectural acoustic phenomenon including the noisy animals in the caves at Arcy-sur-Cure (France), the early warning system at Golkonda Fort (Southern India) and the singing angels at Wells Cathedral in the United Kingdom.