How do cicadas inspire new forms of music?

How do cicadas inspire new forms of music?

Learn about cicadas and how their songs inspire humans to make music.
© World Science Festival (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
    Learn about the biochemistry and characteristics of the pea family (Fabaceae).
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
    The monster flower and the titan arum have been said to smell like rotting flesh.
    Media Editor: Lauren Sims
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
    What do you call this type of animal friendship? Mutualism, of course.
    Media Editor: Lauren Sims
  • © American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
    Researchers develop methods for producing artificial muscles with polymer covalent organic frameworks (polyCOFs).
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
    The cerebellum serves as a sort of regulator and coordinator of nerve impulses between the brain and the muscles.
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
    When one muscle contracts, another relaxes.
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
    And how much buzzing will you hear this summer?
    Media Editor: Miranda Chabot

News •

Summer’s loudest insect is coming. It could save us from a deadly crisis • Nov. 4, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (Sydney Morning Herald)

Transcript

Cicadas are these amazing insects that live for 17 years underground before coming out for several weeks just to sing, fly, mate, and die. It makes a noise with part of its body called the tymbal that vibrates. Shhh.

I sort of explore how these sounds can lead to a new kind of music with humans and insects together. As a musician, one can only hope you can find a way to join into and share in the cicadas' musical celebration that's taken them 17 years to prepare for.

It's a remarkable, strange, and rarely experienced moment in the natural world that really should be celebrated. I don't think anyone's ever celebrated the arrival of the cicadas they way we're going to celebrate them here at the World Science Festival.

Last Modification: