Sounds of Our Times : Two Hundred Years of Acoustics

But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near. Andrew Marvell (1621-1678) In writing this book, I acknowledge two important predecessors. In 1930, Professor Dayton C. Miller, of Case Institute, wrote his Anecdotal History of Acoustics, which followed mainly the individual work of a hundred or so acousticians, up to about 1930. And in 1978, Origins in Acoustics by Profes­ sor F.V. ("Ted") Hunt of Harvard appeared. Professor Hunt had not com­ pleted his book at the time of his death in 1972, but portions of it were published posthumously under the editorship of Professor Robert Apfel of Yale. This book begins roughly where the published portions of Hunt's work left off-the period at the beginning of the nineteenth century-and moves forward into the modern era. Because of the vast amount of acoustical research in this period, the personal and anecdotal style of Professor Miller's book did not seem appropriate. On the other hand, my age sug­ gested to me that I might have not have the time for pursuing the intense but time-consuming scholarship of Professor Hunt (note the quotation above). I have therefore tried to steer a middle course between Miller and Hunt, and have also relied more on secondary sources.

"No one has ever presented such a large body of materials related to the history of acoustics. The bountiful exposition of experiments, instruments and theory ensures that this book will be a necessary reference for anyone interested in the last two hundred years of acoustics."

--Annals of Science The History of Science and Technology from the Thirteenth Century

"I found this book fascinating to read. The material is well chosen, the writing is clear and elegant, and the book is illustrated with figures taken from the original publications of the people concerned. For those who want to delve deeper, the early chapters have around 100 references each, and the later ones around 200. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the development of our subject – and that should be all of you!"

--Acoustics Australia