From the Mysterious Universe Blog:
The Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland is surrounded by mystery. Those familiar with the Knights Templar (or Dan Brown’s popular Da Vinci Code) will have heard of this chapel. It is believed that the surviving members of the Knights Templar who hid here to escape persecution left secret messages in the chapel. It is also rumoured that the Holy Grail resides somewhere on the chapel grounds.
An entirely different code — a musical code — has been embedded in the walls of the chapel for more than 500 years. Historians and architects have known about the code, but have been unable to recognize its meaning because they lacked expertise in music theory. Thomas and Stuart Mitchell (father and son, respectively) have that expertise, however, and have spent decades deciphering the code. Their efforts have now paid off.
A series of elaborate arches surround the altar of the chapel (see image at top of article). More than 200 cubes covered with patterns protrude from the arches. These patterned cubes are the basis of the code.
Rosslyn Chapel 020 (detail1) - original by naughtomaton
The patterns were deciphered by applying theories of cymatics, which is the study of physical patterns that are produced by soundwaves. (In a recent Mysterious Universe post, I described how crop circles might be formed by soundwaves - an example of cymatics in action.)
By determining the sound frequency corresponding to each pattern on the cubes, the Mitchells were able to construct a musical score. The composition, called The Rosslyn Motet, will be performed for the first time in mid-May. It is based on a plain chant style, with a very simple rhythm in three-quarter time. It is roughly 6 1/2 minutes in length, and features approximately a dozen singers or musicians. Each voice or part was identified by examining the locations of the cubes under different arches, as well as the type of instrument held by a carved angel that is located at the base of each corresponding pillar. The song also contains harmonic elements. This may have been perceived as heretical by church authorities in the 15th century, and may explain why the music was encoded.
The following video clip shows more images of the patterned cubes from the chapel, a very cool cymatics demonstration, and an excerpt from the song that the Mitchells composed using the deciphered code.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy2Dg-ncWoY
PS- the Mysterious Universe podcast is an amazing listen!
