Music gets physical

Many people are familiar with Albert Einstein as a physicist, but few know of his other passion in life: music.

In "From Einstein to Superstrings: A Celebration of Einstein & Physics with Music," Brian Foster, a violinist and professor of experimental physics at the University of Oxford, and British recitalist and recording artist Jack Liebeck gave a combination lecture and recital last Saturday connecting these seemingly distant subjects.

Throughout the talk, Foster drew musical analogies to show scientific concepts. For example, he illustrated principles of resolution using projected images of the surface of Liebeck's violin. The vibration of the violin's strings, likewise, was used to demonstrate oscillation of waves.

"Special relativity is not merely a mathematical curiosity-it forms the basis of our understanding of the way stars burn, of nuclear power," Foster said, using general examples to illustrate the more cerebral portions of the lecture.

Foster went on to explain Superstring Theory, his own attempt to achieve "Einstein's [unaccomplished] dreams of the unification of the fundamental forces in an elegant way."

As Liebeck played a selection by Johann Sebastian Bach on his violin, the slideshow introduced the man famous for both "E=mc2" and "Life without playing music is inconceivable to me."

Einstein's general theory of relativity, the cleverly animated slideshow stated, "changed the science community forever." Other facts about Einstein's life and work were also included; even the Bach accompaniment was in line with Einstein's fondness for classical music.

Though the presentation sought to capture the interest of both the scientific and musical communities, it also served to publicize Foster's new theory. But even while Foster is still mired in the scientific details, both he and Liebeck plan to remain true to the famous physicist's musical taste.