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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Wondrous Sound

I generally post a photo here but a while back I was visiting the mosque and madrasa of Sultan Hassan in Cairo with a friend when one of the men offered to show us how the construction of the mosque facilitated the transmission of sound from the area where the sheikh would be preaching to the people sitting in the large courtyard. This mosque was built in the 1100's long before anyone could dream of microphones, but the effects are extraordinary.
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4 comments:

  1. Mary AnnMay 30, 2013 at 4:17 PM

    I wish you had told us if he ever faced the congregants... the sound was beautiful, though.

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  2. Maryanne Stroud GabbaniMay 30, 2013 at 4:20 PM

    To get the effect he'd have to face the niche.

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  3. StarMay 31, 2013 at 7:32 AM

    Fascinating, and the sound is beautiful. A prayer to Allah, I presume. Thanks so much!

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  4. William KendallJune 8, 2013 at 10:43 PM

    I've always been struck by how architects of ancient buildings were able to create something that carries sound so well.

    Trial and error, perhaps?

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