Artist Brown’s project Dinosaur Choir examines Corythosaurus vocalizations at different life stages, using computational models to recreate dinosaur sounds.

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Courtney Brown, an artist and computer scientist, was inspired to delve into the world of Dinosaur Choir after working on her project, “Rawr! A Study in Sonic Skulls.” This project focused on the Corythosaurus and explored how changes to the crest in adult maturity affect their sound. However, one of the significant differences between her two projects lies in the way the sound is produced—the reimagining of the dinosaur’s vocal box.

The transition from using a mechanical larynx in “Rawr!” to a more computational approach for Dinosaur Choir was prompted by practical reasons. Brown realized that having people blow into a mouthpiece to create sound would not be hygienic, especially considering the ongoing pandemic. Given her background in computer science, shifting to a computational model for generating sounds seemed like a more feasible and efficient option.

In 2021, the work on Dinosaur Choir officially began, with Brown heading to Canada, where the Corythosaurus was believed to have roamed. Collaborating with paleontologist Thomas Dudgeon from the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum, Brown and Gajewski analyzed recent CT scans and 3D fabrications to create a life-sized replica of an adult Corythosaurus’ head, meticulously incorporating details like the nasal passages.

Despite the technical challenges, Brown humorously mentions being exceptionally proud of the accuracy of the nasal passages in the replica. She dedicated a significant amount of time to mastering CT segmentation to ensure precision, factoring in the impact of millions of years of burial on the nasal structure.

With the completion of the skull model, the focus shifted to the vocalizations of the dinosaur. The transition to a computational form for the vocal box provided Brown with greater flexibility to experiment with various research hypotheses without starting from scratch each time.

The models of the vocalizations were based on mathematical equations that account for the mechanics of the voice, including factors like changes in air pressure over time. Drawing inspiration from recent research and a paper on an ankylosaur larynx discovered in 2023, Brown incorporated these findings and codes into the computational models of the vocal box.

The revelation from the research paper that non-avian dinosaurs may have had a syrinx more akin to birds, rather than the larynx of mammals and crocodiles, served as a pivotal point in shaping Brown’s approach to Dinosaur Choir. This insight opened up new avenues for exploring the vocalization capabilities of dinosaurs in a more bird-like manner.

To further understand Courtney Brown’s work on Dinosaur Choir and her innovative approach to recreating dinosaur vocalizations, you can watch the video from the Georgia Tech School of Music below.

In conclusion, Courtney Brown’s journey from “Rawr! A Study in Sonic Skulls” to Dinosaur Choir reflects her dedication to blending art and science. Through meticulous research, collaboration with experts, and a creative computational approach, Brown aims to shed light on the auditory world of dinosaurs and challenge existing perceptions of how these ancient creatures communicated.

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