The marvellous sound world in the 'Phonurgia Nova' of Athanasius Kircher

Athanasius Kircher, a Jesuit, was born in Geisa, Thüringen, in 1608. He spent a large part of his life in Rome, where he died in 1680. He was active in many different topics, ranging from geology to philosophy. He was the author of many books, among them the Musurgia Universalis, written in 1650, and the Phonurgia Nova, of 1673. Whilst the Musurgia Universalis has gathered wide attention, his Phonurgia Nova, which means “ a new method of sound production”, has only recently been rediscovered. In this paper the original Latin version of the Phonurgia Nova, which comprises two different books, i.e. the “Phonosophia nova” and the “Phonosophia anacamptica”, is analyzed. The first book deals with the influence of music on human beings, whereas the second book analyses sound propagation in enclosed spaces. This book reveals some interesting acoustic apparatuses for sound production and propagation, such as the “tuba stentorophonica” (the “loud trumpet”), and the “statua citofonica” (the “talking statue”). Some of these phonic apparatuses are described, analyzed and commented on.