The Principle of Resonance

The Principle of Resonance

June 15, 2024

I sat in the first chair awaiting the new conductor. Like most of the others, I fiddled with my violin, practicing my scales, just trying to waste a few minutes without drawing attention to myself.

However,

Despite the best plans “Of Mice and Men” things often go awry. I randomly played, just for fun, the opening notes from “Smoke on the Water” thinking they would dilute among the background noise of the other candidates and their audible scales.

However,

The fair young lady with the cello, tuned in perfect fifths, one octave higher than I was accustomed, repeated my audible emission. She went a step further and added her own opening to “Stairway to Heaven” and waited for a reply.

According to the Scientific Principle of Resonance, an increase in the amplitude of the oscillation of one system exposed to a periodic force whose frequency is equal to or nearly the same as the frequency of another system. I might not have heard it over all of the background noise, but the strings would have vibrated none-the-less.

But return the salvo I did.

Perhaps she knew “Dueling Banjos.” It was an easy tune to catch, even easier to release.

She was a fisherman in orchestral garb.

I was glad the conductor was late.

At the conclusion of the audition, she blew me a kiss and signed her phone number. Of course I understood. Of course I called. Of course I set a date.

Who am I to violate a scientific principle?