The question of what dinosaurs truly sounded like has captivated scientists and the public alike for decades. Forget the iconic roars popularized in movies; a groundbreaking musical project is offering a new perspective. Dinosaur Choir, conceived by artists Courtney Brown and Cezary Gajewski, employs 3D models of dinosaur skulls to reconstruct their vocal tracts, providing insights into the potential sounds these ancient creatures might have produced.Dinosaur Choir focuses on the Corythosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur known for its distinctive crest. This instrument allows users to interact with a virtual reconstruction of the dinosaur's vocal anatomy. By blowing into a microphone while standing in front of a camera, users can manipulate the airflow and mouth shape, altering the vocalizations that resonate through the dinosaur's skull. The result is not a roar, but a sound more akin to a deep, resonant wail, offering a stark contrast to conventional portrayals.The innovative approach of Dinosaur Choir has garnered recognition, including at Georgia Tech’s 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition. Jeff Albert, associate professor and chair of the competition, highlighted the project's expressive element, stemming from Dr. Brown's musical background, combined with rigorous scientific methodology. The journey to create this instrument began in 2011, sparked by Brown's visit to a dinosaur museum and her fascination with the sound resonating crests of dinosaurs like the Parasaurolophus.Brown's initial project, Rawr! A Study in Sonic Skulls, laid the groundwork for Dinosaur Choir. Both projects center on the Corythosaurus, examining how the crest's development throughout its lifespan influenced its sound. A key evolution from Rawr! to Dinosaur Choir is the method of sound production. Rawr! used a mechanical larynx, requiring direct physical interaction, which raised hygiene concerns. Dinosaur Choir transitioned to a computational approach, leveraging Brown's computer science background to create a more accessible and adaptable instrument.The creation of Dinosaur Choir involved extensive research and collaboration. Brown traveled to Canada to update her research and worked with paleontologist Thomas Dudgeon to analyze CT scans and 3D fabrications of Corythosaurus skulls. This meticulous process led to the creation of a life-size replica of an adult Corythosaurus' head, complete with its complex nasal passages. Brown even mastered CT segmentation to ensure the accuracy of the model, accounting for the effects of millions of years of fossilization.With the skull model finalized, the focus shifted to recreating dinosaur vocalizations. The computational model allows for experimentation with different hypotheses about dinosaur vocal mechanisms. Inspired by recent research suggesting that non-avian dinosaurs may have possessed a syrinx, similar to birds, rather than a larynx like mammals, Brown developed models based on the syrinx of a raven and a dove. She is also working on an alligator model. These models can be switched in real-time, allowing users to explore the impact of varying trachea lengths and vocal membrane widths on the resulting sound.While the exact vocal mechanisms of dinosaurs remain uncertain due to the scarcity of preserved soft tissue, Dinosaur Choir offers a unique way to explore different possibilities. Brown acknowledges the inherent scientific uncertainty, emphasizing that vocalizations are behaviors that leave no fossil record. Despite the challenges, she remains hopeful that dinosaurs did indeed vocalize. Following its success at the Guthman competition, Dinosaur Choir is slated for several performances and exhibits. Brown also plans to expand the project, incorporating more dinosaurs into the choir, including hadrosaurs and potentially even a T-rex, despite the speculative nature required for the latter.
