CYMATICS

VISIBLE SOUND

The term Cymatics (pronounced sigh-matt-ix) was coined by Dr. Hans Jenny (1904 -1972). It is derived from the Greek word Kyma or ta kymatika meaning; matters pertaining to waves. By the term waves, Jenny was particularly wishing to point towards periodicity or cycles. Dr. Jenny was an Anthroposophist (a follower of the teachings of the Austrian philosopher, occultist, mystic and clairvoyant Rudolph Steiner 1864-1925). This work revolves around the ability to demonstrate acoustic phenomenon, which work was begun in the late 18th century by Ernst Chladni (1756-1827) and then, in the late 19th century, developed further by Margaret Watts-Hughes (using the human voice and several diaphragms) and then taken a stage further by Jenny in the middle of the 20th century. The famous Chladni Figures had previously visibly demonstrated the organising power of sound and vibration. Seeing the power of sound to affect matter allows us to catch a glimpse into the healing power of sound. We can watch the various sounds, or harmonics, within the plate create the exact same geometric and symmetrical patterns when that one harmonic is played. Each design is held in potential within the plate as a whole and is excited into form by way of the sounding of the particular harmonic necessary to produce that pattern.

We can possibly come to see that our particular physical form might be created by sound (albeit an inaudible sound to our ears) and that a certain sound can excite another pattern from within our total being. This is also the law of Resonance and we can come to resonate with higher levels of reality that can serve to heal us by raising us above the level of discomfort that is the cause of our disease. We can come into resonance with any number of vibrations and perhaps we are resonating with an unhealthy vibration that causes us to manifest ill-health in our lives and beginning to attune to a vibration that is more healthy for us could enable us to move away from this disharmonious vibration to one that creates a more sustainable lifestyle for us. We can come to resonate with another aspect of our true being that enables us to manifest our true nature effortlessly and so remove the need for disease. When we find our true note we resume harmony with the total whole of Life.

The method was to take a metal plate and to suspend it as freely as possible and then to excite it into activity via the use of a violin bow. Most typically, this was to clamp it at its centre leaving the rest of the plate fairly free to vibrate. Placing some sand upon the surface and then bowing the plate aroused the sand particles into activity and into very beautifully organised regular geometric shapes. Bowing the plate at different points excited other harmonics, which further developed the resulting patterns into different, yet still ordered and repeatable, geometric or mandala-like patterns. Each single harmonic of the plate when sounded created the same pattern, which increased in complexity as one progressed along the harmonic series. (The Harmonic Series is the basis of Overtone Singing - for more read my article on this OVERTONE SINGING)

A visible sound photograph by Dr. Hans Jenny.

The harmonic series, or overtones, is likewise a law of nature that follows a strictly mathematical progression for the human voice, strings, and brass instruments. This series is predictable and ordered and finds its reflection within the Cymatics phenomenon. For instance, the first overtone is known as the Octave, whilst the next overtone is a perfect Fifth and the following overtone is a Fourth. Each overtone produces an interval that gets progressively smaller as the process moves along until they are so close together that the human ear cannot detect the difference. Each succeeding Octave is also divided up in an arithmetic series. That is to say that the first Octave produces One interval (known as the Octave) and in the next Octave we find Two intervals, whilst in the next higher Octave we find Four intervals and the next Octave Eight intervals and so on. The interval of an Octave is when the note upon which the whole series begins is reached again only vibrating at twice, four times, eight times - and so on - its original speed. Therefore, if we begin on the note C the next Octave is also called C but it is vibrating twice as fast as the original C. If the first tone is vibrating at 250 cycles per second (cps) then the Octave vibrates at 500 cps, the next Octave at 1,000 cps (4 times the original speed) and so on. The introduction of this Law into Western music is attributed to the great Sage of Samos - Pythagoras (around 600 BC) - and an entire cosmology was further developed around these musical principles, and published in certain of his writings, by the 17th century English Rosicrucian apologist Robert Fludd (1574-1637).

One of the Cymatic images photographed by Dr. Hans Jenny

Dr. Jenny took the idea of the Chladni plate but went on to excite it using precisely measured vibrations (cps - Hertz) and amplifications (volume) via a piezoelectric effect using a crystal oscillator and then to cover the plate with various substances and finally to document his results in both photographs and films. He researched this phenomena for 14 years. The results are truly awe inspiring, breathtaking, most inspiring and enlightening. The films in particular are most stimulating. By filming the experiments, we are able to see instances of when forms arise out of chaotic substance and then return back again into what we might term the Virgin Space of Repotentialisation only to come forth again forming the same pattern (providing the tone remains the same). Here we see cyclic phenomenon taking place, where all is in constant movement. Even the regularly formed geometric patterns are shown to be comprised of numerous particles constantly moving within those patterns - like an army of ants walking backwards and forwards along a straight line (demonstrating the Particle / Wave phenomenon).

Whilst Dr. Jenny, as far as I know, didn't apply any of his findings, regarding the effects of sound and vibration upon physical matter, within the healing realm of sound, yet, nevertheless, he laid a wonderful foundation for that work in respect of making visible the power of sound and its effects upon the world of form and matter.

Peter Guy Manners has developed what he names a Cymatics Applicator many years ago now. He has found that he needs to send five different sounds through this applicator for healing purposes and according to his system of working each part of the human body has its own sets of frequencies that he uses through the Applicator. So, whilst Hans Jenny (as far as I know) developed no equipment to apply his findings within the realm of sound healing, nevertheless there is this system that has been available and put to use for many decades now.

"An investigation of the world in terms of cymatics throws an interesting historical light on earlier philosophies resting upon mathematical order and the relationship of sounds, musical tones and words (Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Archytas, Plato, Aristoxenos, down to Kepler and many others). Connections are revealed between such philosophies and the knowledge of cymatic phenomena independently acquired through modern scientific research."

”Now it is beyond doubt that where organization is concerned, the harmonic figures of physics are in fact essentially similar to the harmonic patterns of organic nature.... In the first place, we have the certain experience that harmonic systems such as we have visualized in our experiments arise from oscillations in the form of intervals and harmonic frequencies. That is indisputable. ... If biological rhythms operate as generative factors at the interval-like frequencies appropriate to them, then harmonic patterns must be necessarily forthcoming.”

(Quotes above taken from the German edition, Cymatics, Vol. 11.)

I was first introduced to the work of Dr. Hans Jenny by David Toop (flautist and improvising musician and writer) when he and I worked together in the mid 70s and immediately bought both hardback volumes of these large illustrated books. They each cost £25, even in 1975, primarily because they were printed in Switzerland, which printed fantastic photographs. These are very hard to come by now but they have recently been combined into one large hardback volume and published in the USA but available over here in the UK for only £35 and, whereas the original volumes placed the German and English alongside each other, this new volume is only in English.

cymatics

The cover illustration of the new release of this important work with sound.

Hans Jenny (1904-1972) was indeed a Renaissance man in every sense of the word. A medical doctor, fine artist, pianist, philosopher, historian, physical scientist and researcher, his insatiable curiosity embraced all fields of human endeavour, and his substantial talent and acumen helped him master many of them.

Follow the link HERE to the Cymatics website where you can read various articles, learn about the book, or even purchase the book or various Videos featuring Hans Jenny's work in Cymatics.

Recommendations:

BOOK: Cymatics

Videos: Cymatic Soundscapes

Cymatics: The Healing Nature of Sound

© Frank Perry, 2002 & 2008. All of these articles are copyright. They may individually be copied and shared with others in a spirit of knowledge-sharing and fair play, but they may not be sold, printed or reproduced in quantity or changed in form without the permission of the copyright holder. None of this material may be reproduced in workshops or lectures of any kind unless quotes are credited or properly attributed. Magazine and other editors may e-mail me for permission to reprint. E-mail: