Eric Dolphy's Physics Notes

Scans of copies of some papers Eric apparently did for a physics class are shown here. These are only of mild historical interest, but demonstrate how music dominated Eric's world. The teacher made comments on these papers, but it is easy to distinguish the handwriting. I don't know a date for these. My speculation is that they may come from his LA City College Days, but that is only a wild guess.

Thanks to Joe O'Con for this material from his archives.

An essay on the natural scale. Eric was obviously concerned with non-Western music. Page 1 / Page 2
A blurb on chords made up of equal intervals.
A discussion on the perfection of instruments: "the flute is the most perfected instrument". This is an issue returned to in later notes. Page 1 / Page 2
An essay titled "Music and People". Some interesting quotes: "Jazz is a reflection of our country and its people. In jazz everyone has the freedom to create or add to, but of course within certain bounds. That is true in this country. Everybody has the freedom to do what they want in the way they live, within certain bounds." He then has an amusing discussion of music and clothes! Finally he mentions his view of modern music. Page 1 / Page 2
A simple explanation of overtones with the example of a C major triad.
A fairly dull discussion of waves.
A comparison of sight and sound.
The physics of sound. "Does this mean that to get sound you have to have this oval shape?"
"The Difference in the World of Sound & Light" The teacher notes that "all of this was said in class". Eric contrasts going to a museum and looking at paintings with the way we listen to music.
Brief report of an experiment with overtones.
Crude representations of sound waves produced by intervals.
More discussion of waves. Page 1 / Page 2

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