Byrne, Rath and Blesser and Salter all discuss how sound and spaces interact. They look at how the sounds are impacted by the space in which they are produced; Rath explains this relationship using the term “‘catacoustics,’ the study of how sound was instrumentally projected, reflected, dissipated, and otherwise manipulated once it had been produced” (Rath). While they all agree that the space affects the sound and how one hears the sound, they disagree on if the sound or the space comes first. Byrne, in his TEDTalk says, the “vessel is created first” therefore, the sound, in his example, music, is made for the ‘vessel’ in which it is being performed. He explains how birds adapt their calls depending on the space which they are living in, and he uses this as a comparison to humans. He says, “the passion, the joy is not mutually exclusive, what the world needs now is for us to realize that we are like the birds. we adapt, we sing, like the bird, the joy is still there even though we have changed what we do to fit the context” (Byrne). For years, artist, from Bach to pop musicians today, adapt to and play for the place in which they perform their music. However, Rath and Blesser and Salter think that spaces adapt for the sound. Blesser and Salter discuss the Great Ball Court, which was a large gathering area place surrounded by large stone walls, was considered perfect for a religious leader to preach because his voice was louder, giving him “higher stature and perceived power” (Blesser and Salter). It was said that, “whispers at one end can be heard at the other end, making it an ideal place for a ceremonial leader to guide the audience” (Blesser and Salter). Rath talks about how spaces where changed to fit the sound, draping curtains to dampen echo and change the space’s catacoustics. Rath explain how “The Reformation changed the acoustics of existing churches. Graven sounds as well as graven images had to be removed. Clarity of voice rather than fullness became the goal” (Rath). Byrne, Rath and Blesser and Salter highlight different approaches to how sound and space interreact, giving each the reader gaps allowing one to figure out how they think about and interact with space and sound around them.
