What’s the Science behind Music?

Sound is invisible, yet it’s all around us! What’s going on here? What exactly is a sound, anyway?

#MetKids Microscope is a show about the science behind the art (and the art behind the science!) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Learn true stories about real discoveries from scientists at the Museum, and do some experiments on your own!

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Chief Digital Officer: Douglas Hegley
Executive Producer: Sarah Wambold
Director/Writer/Producer: Rachel Smith
Producer: Emma Vecchione
Project Manager: Maria Kozanecka
Animation Direction: Lisa LaBracio
Art Direction + Illustration: Tara Sunil Thomas
Animation: Sara Zarul Azham
Compositing: Lisa LaBracio
Narrators: Corin Wells, David Freeman
Episode Consultants: David Freeman, Marco Leona
Education Consultants: Darcy-Tell Morales, Merantine Hens
Original Music: Austin Fisher
Sound Mix: Dave Raymond
Production Design: Aurola Wedman Alfaro
Rights and Permissions: Julie Zeftel
Special Thanks: Oliver Beer, Limor Tomer, Lauren Rosati, Emery Kerkes, Manu Frederickx

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Featured Artworks

Vase, 1901.
Designed by Louis Majorelle (French, 1859–1926).
Porcelain, 19 x W. 9 1/2 x D. 9 in. (47.9 x 24.1 x 22.9 cm).
Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection, Gift of Robert A. Ellison Jr., 2013 (2013.245.5)

Vessel in form of female (?) figure, ca. 7th–6th century BCE.
Iron Age III. Iran.
Ceramic, 23.82 in. (60.5 cm).
Rogers Fund, 1943 (43.89.3)

Storage jar decorated with mountain goats, ca. 4000–3600 BCE.
Chalcolithic Period. Central Iran.
Ceramic, paint, 21 in. (53.3 cm).
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1959 (59.52)

Dadabuan, 19th century. 
Philippine (Mindanao). Philippines.
Wood, mother-of-pearl, skin, Height: 32 3/8 in. (82.2 cm), Diameter (Maximum): 24 1/2 in. (62 cm), Diameter (Drum head): 21 3/4 in. (55.3 cm).
Rogers Fund, 1982 (1982.32)

Fish, ca. 1947.
Designer: Beatrice Wood (American, 1892–1998).
Earthenware, lustered, H. 7, L. 17-3/4, D. 6-7/8 in. (17.8 x 45.1 x 17.5 cm.).
Purchase, Edward C. Moore Jr. Gift, 1947 (47.126.2).
Courtesy Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts/Happy Valley Foundation

Cooking pot, ca. Late 8th–7th century BCE.
Israelite. Iron Age II. Levant, Lachish (modern Tell ed-Duweir).
Ceramic, 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. (10.6 × 13.2 cm)
Gift of Harris D. and H. Dunscombe Colt, 1934 (34.126.43)

The Ming Sisters, 2003.
Betty Woodman (American, 1930–2018).
Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint, 31 1/2 x 27 1/2 x 7 3/4 in., 22.9 lb. (80 x 69.9 x 19.7 cm, 10.4 kg).
Purchase, Gift of The A. L. Levine Family Foundation, by exchange, 2003 (2003.413a–c).
© Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Ewer, 19th century, after 1617–18 original.
Manufacturer: Franchi and Son.
British, London, after British, London original.
Silver on base metal, 14 1/2 x 7 3/8 x 4 7/8 in. (36.8 x 18.7 x 12.4 cm).
Purchase, 1873 (73.8.8)

Vase with performance of a dragon boat, late 17th–early 18th century.
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722). China.
Porcelain painted with overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), H. 28 3/4 in. (73 cm).
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913 (14.40.83)

Jar with geometric designs, ca. 5300–4300 BCE.
Transitional Chalcolithic, Central Iran.
Ceramic, paint, Diameter: 9.25 in. (23.50 cm); Height: 6.75 in. (17.15 cm): Diameter of rim: 4.31 in. (10.95 cm).
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Wolfe, 1960 (60.61.3)

Mrs. Olin Levi Warner, 1886–87, cast 1897–98.
Olin Levi Warner (American, 1844–1896).
Bronze, 22 1/4 x 8 3/4 x 8 in. (56.5 x 22.2 x 20.3 cm).
Gift of National Sculpture Society, 1898 (98.9.6)

Ewer, 19th century, after 1558–59 original.
Manufacturer: Franchi and Son.
British, London, after Flemish, Antwerp original.
Electroformed copper, silver plated and gilt, Height: 19 in. (48.3 cm).
Purchase, 1873 (73.8.52)

The Virgin, 1906, cast 1909.
Andrew O'Connor (American, 1874–1941).
Bronze, 17 1/4 x 8 x 9 in. (43.8 x 20.3 x 22.9 cm).
Rogers Fund, 1918 (18.38)

Vase, 1986.
Designers: Sinya Okayama (Japanese, b. 1941) and Alessandro Mendini (Italian, 1931–2019); Manufacturer: Daichi Steel Company.
Stainless steel, H.14, W.3-3/8, D.11 in. (50.5 x 8.6 x 80 cm.)
Gift of Gallery 91/Daichi Co. Ltd., 1988 (1988.241)

Axe Vessel, 1986.
Designer: Gordon Baldwin (British, b. 1932).
Earthenware, H. 29-3/8, W. 16 3/4, D. 7 in.
Gift of Adrian Sassoon, Esq., 1998 (1998.289).
© Gordon Baldwin

Vase with archaistic patterns, mid-18th century.
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95). China.
Porcelain with gilt relief decoration over green ground (Jingdezhen ware), H. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm); W. 11 in. (27.9 cm); D. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm), Rim: W. 6 in. (15.2 cm); D. 5 in. (12.7 cm), Foot: W. 7 in. (17.8 cm); D. 6 in. (15.2 cm).
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913 (14.40.400)

Scofield Thayer, 1923, cast 1924.
Gaston Lachaise (American (born France), 1882–1935)
Bronze, 12 5/8 x 6 1/4 x 9 3/8 in., 18.4 lb. (32.1 x 15.9 x 23.8 cm, 8.3 kg).
Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982 (1984.433.30)

Oliver Beer. Vessel Orchestra, 2019. 32 hollow objects from The Met collection, microphones, speakers, keyboard, and associated audio equipment. © Oliver Beer, courtesy of the artist and Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

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Featured Music

Violin, Andrea Amati (ca. 1505–1578), Cremona, ca. 1559 Ex. 2

Oliver Beer, Vessel Orchestra, 2019

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