Research Group

Musical Acoustics and Sound Studies

Group Details

About this Group

The Musical Acoustics and Sound Studies group is devoted to research in the generic field of Musical Acoustics, aiming to explore new and more comprehensive methods for investigating musical sounds, including not only the physical principles underlying their production by musical instruments, but also accounting for cultural factors which strongly influence their perception. The scientific approach intersects science and technology, ethnomusiology, media studies and organology, and is transversal in relation to activities of other groups of INET-md.

Objectives and priorities for 2025-2029

In the next four years, the group will carry on developing two complementary research lines, closely related to the thematic lines devoted to “Heritage(s), Archives and Museums” and “Digital and Technological Performativities”:

Developing theoretical models and experimental methods to explore the physical and psycho-acoustic principles underlying the production and perception of the sounds of musical instruments by exploiting the power of physics-based techniques while taking into account cultural factors;
The safeguarding of cultural heritage, enhacing acoustic and cultural values of musical objects by devising transdisciplinary approaches, and promoting musical heritage in all forms, tangible and intangible.

One priority of the group strategy will be to develop new research projects and activities with both public and private partners, including the National Museum of Music, which is currently undergoing a move to the Royal Building of Mafra where NOVA will build a centre for Musicology. Another important element is the tranfer into the new facilities of the Music Acoustics Lab, which will attract students and researchers to participate in the research developed by the group and allow us to develop high-quality teaching activities.

Thematic Lines involved