Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/855478
59 Q3 2017 / CINEMONTAGE That is only part of the fun found in this small book. As an acoustician for whom thinking about sounds is as natural as breathing, Murch takes Titius-Bode a step beyond its hypothesis and relates it to musical waves. He demonstrates how the ratio between the distances of planet orbits predicted by Bode is the same as the ratio between the notes of the musical scale, and points out, "Mathematically, the Bode formula generates musical ratios, and insofar as the Bode formula describes the relative position of the solar system's planets (and their moons), it also describes a musical configuration." He describes music in space — not Pythagoras' "Music of the Spheres" concept (although that too makes an appearance in the conversation), nor sounds produced by human machinations, but rather the result of the various vibrations every object creates when it is "struck, bowed, plucked or blown." The book jacket emphasizes this puzzling relationship of music to planetary movement, showing a somewhat disembodied Murch emerging from a starry sky, seemingly conducting these planet waves. Weschler, a prolific journalist and critic, was a staff writer for The New Yorker for more than 20 years and has authored several books, including Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder (Pantheon, 1995), which was short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize. His style is informed and engaging, occasionally a bit precious, but always respectful of his subject. Fans of The New Yorker articles will find much to enjoy in his writing. He allows the reader to approach the labyrinth of his subject's mind through Murch's own words, then adds dissections, counter-ideas, historical references and thoughtful interviews with established professional astrophysicists whose responses to Murch's work range from scorn to skepticism to admiration. Waves Passing in the Night thus becomes much more than a book about celestial mechanics or a book about Murch's ideas. It raises, but does not answer, questions about the relationship of the "skilled amateur" who seeks truth in any discipline to the powers that be who decide what is acceptable evidence. As a jacket blurb from documentarian Errol Morris reads, "We come to see science as a closed club, science as abstruse and narrow, science as caste. But Weschler allows that it could be the other way around, too: Science as a protector of truth and progress, science as guardian against kooks." The author also questions his own positions, and allows many parties with skin in the game to have their say. John Cage, Michel Foucault, Arthur Koestler, Margaret Wertheim, Lee Smolin, Edgar Allen Poe and others appear along with such usual suspects of Einstein, Kepler, Newton, Lucas and Coppola. Photographs and historical portraits along with graphs, old and new, charmingly dot the pages of Waves Passing in the Night. Reading it is akin to attending a wonderful party, hosted by Weschler, honoring Murch and inviting you to join in the fascinating conversation. f Planet Waves CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55 CUT / PRINT high-resolution, weighted trackballs, 12 primary color correction knobs, 18 dedicated navigation and transport keys, and two five- inch LCD screens (as well as other controls) will help you be a better and more effective colorist. At $2,995, the Panel is also a great price, especially when compared to the Advanced Panel that costs 10 times the price. Those who want to pay less can go for the DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel ($995), an excellent value while being of significant higher quality than other third-party consoles in its range. NOTE ON RESOLVE 14 DaVinci's color tools are world-class; there's no question there. 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And there's much, much more. The enhancements to Resolve 14 are breathtaking, and make a compelling case to use Resolve, not only for its world- class color tools, but as a complete post-production solution that includes editing, color grading, audio mixing, media management and finishing. That's where I'm headed, for one. More information about Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve 14 can be found at www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ davinciresolve/. f Blackmagic CONTINUED FROM PAGE 54 The enhancements to Resolve 14 are breathtaking, and make a compelling case to use it as a complete post- production solution that includes editing, color grading, audio mixing, media management and finishing. TECH TIPS