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Cicada's Song
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Cicadas in translation from German - Singing Insect. We name so because mail issues the sounds as a mixture of chirring, chirping, and singing. Under the poetic legend of ancient Greeks two musicians Evnom and Ariston have arranged competition. Cicada was also invited to this competition. When musician started to play instruments, Cicada sat on one place and started to produce sounds similar to the sounds of Arpha . As you may guess Cicada won this competition and was proclaimed the best musician. Since then the cicada sitting on arpha, is considered to be a Greek emblem of music.
On the contrary female Cicadas do not sing. They are listeners of their male counterpart. They main task of female Cicada is to determine which male Cicada is the best performer on the block. This male Cicada is then picked for mating.
From early ages men was fascinated by the sounds and songs of Cicadas. Cicada fans in Asia capture them and contain within a wooden box. Captured Cicadas then divided according their tune and sounds and appreciated by large crowds of fans for both loudness and variety if their songs.
The musical secret of Cicadas is in their chamber on its breast. There are special membranes which are actuated by a strong muscle. This muscle is reduced with huge speed - twenty thousand times per one second. As a result, membranes issue a sharp sound. The sound then passes through complex system of resonators and amplifiers producing stunning sounds that can be heard for miles.
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