On Sept 28th 2007 Science and Sons had the honour of participating in Toronto’s 2nd Annual Nuit Blanche - contemporary all-night art event.

Science and Sons was commissioned to create an interactive public art instillation inspired by the phonofone. The principle idea behind this sculpture was to challenge the viewer to explore the relationship between their private listening equipment (Mp3 players, cell phones) and the contrasting social functions of music.

The result was as 10ft (3.3 M) long sculpture made primarily of 14 cleverly arranged nickel plated horns (tubas, baritones and euphoniums) mounted on an elliptical wooden base. Users (up to 14 at once) were invited to place the ear-buds or speakers of their digital devices into various horn mouth pieces, at which point their music was amplified and sprung forth from a corresponding horn.

Play By Hear was enthusiastically received as a captivating social musical instrument which flipped the antisocial stigma of private listening equipment on its ear.