Throughout human history, what” sounds” have been defined by us as “music”? What makes a sound qualify as a “musical”? This lecture begins with the physical properties of sound, examining how humans perceive pitch, rhythm, and harmony, and how the auditory system processes various sounds. We’ll explore which types of sounds can be interpreted by the ear and brain as music, uncovering the scientific principles behind musical perception. The talk will also delve into how ambient sounds influence our emotions and, from a psychological perspective, analyze how music resonates with our innermost feelings.
■ Speaker | Chen-Chung Lee
Dr. Chen-Chung Lee, a neuroscientist with a PhD from the University of Michigan, is also an accomplished bandoneonist striving to balance the rational precision of a scientist with the emotional expression of a musician. Dr. Lee specializes in auditory physiology, sound localization, and music cognition. In addition to teaching courses at several universities, he leads the band Circo as both director and principal bandoneon player, earning the title of “Best Instrumentalist” at the 2018 Golden Indie Music Awards.
Dr. Lee also hosted the radio program Why You Like Listening to Music on Philharmonic Radio Taipei and conceived and hosted the National Performing Arts Center’s podcast, Backstage Monologue. Alongside performing, composing, arranging, and producing music, Dr. Lee is actively engaged in advancing arts and science education.
