This is what pasta sounds like, according to an Oxford scientist and an Emmy-winning composer
Music to my ears.
If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite pasta noodle sounds like, you’re in luck.
The inquiring minds over at Barilla, which calls itself the world’s leading pasta producer, tapped an Oxford scientist and an Emmy-winning composer to do just that.
The Al Bronzo Soundtrack has songs specifically for each Al Bronzo pasta cut: Bucatini, Mezzi Rigatoni, Spaghetti, Penne Rigate, Fusilli and Linguine.
University of Oxford Experimental Psychologist Charles Spence, M.A., Ph.D., assessed each pasta shape through the lens of a concept he studied and helped pioneer called “sonic seasoning” — the scientific pairing of sound with specific flavors and textures to enhance the way people experience food.
“Sonic seasoning is the name given to the emerging scientific research showing that what we hear significantly changes what we taste and how much we enjoy the experience,” Prof. Spence said.
“I’ve been very excited to take this world of sonic seasoning and apply it to the Barilla Al Bronzo Soundtrack to create the first soundtrack with the power to tickle our ears as much as it tickles our tastebuds.”
Barilla then collaborated with “The White Lotus” composer and three-time Emmy Award winner Cristobal Tapia de Veer to bring the sounds of pasta to life.
De Veer used Spence’s scientific insights to put together the Al Bronzo Soundtrack, a compilation of six tracks that is a “bespoke musical score designed to amplify your pasta-eating experience” — and his “White Lotus” influence shines through.
Each track was handcrafted to “elicit a distinct visceral reaction with every Al Bronzo bite” through a symphony of tones, tempos, pitches and harmonics.
“The Al Bronzo Soundtrack is the first time I’ve been asked to musicalize the sensory impressions one experiences when consuming food and it’s been a delightful experiment,” de Veer said.
The tracks really do sound like they could be featured in the hit HBO series — maybe there will be some sound of pasta in the show’s future
“With the Al Bronzo Soundtrack, you have the opportunity to experience pasta with all of your senses,” Jennifer Ping, Vice President of Marketing at Barilla US, said in a statement.
“Our Al Bronzo pasta delivers extraordinary sauce grip for maximum flavor in every bite. When you pair Al Bronzo pasta with the ultimate culinary soundtrack, you get an unforgettable multi-sensory experience that elevates dining to new heights.”
The Al Bronzo Soundtrack, which builds off the brand’s viral 2021 Barilla Playlist Timer, is available at AlBronzoSoundtrack.com and on Spotify.
Fans can also enter for the chance to win a limited-edition vinyl record version of the Al Bronzo Soundtrack directly on the website. The giveaway ends on April 10 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
